Refuse take over FCT councils despite Wike’s directive on evacuation

Despite a directive from FCT Minister Nyesom Wike for contractors to resume the evacuation of waste across Abuja and its six area councils, heaps of refuse remain piled high on several streets in the Kuje and Gwagwalada Area Councils.

During a visit to Kuje on Sunday, Abuja Metro observed that refuse has virtually taken over several roads, particularly behind the Kuje Township Stadium along the route linking the council secretariat to White Dove Hospital. In some areas, the waste covers nearly half the road and has blocked drainage systems, making it impossible for motorists from opposing lanes to pass simultaneously.

A resident of the staff quarters, behind the stadium, told our reporter that although the area is a designated dump site, the waste has been accumulating since last year without being cleared by environmental workers.

He noted that the blockage poses a serious health hazard to the community.

“Residents can hardly open their windows because of the foul odor coming from the dump,” he said, describing the situation as an eyesore. “It is hard to believe that Kuje, which is so close to the Abuja city center, has been overtaken by refuse—especially just meters away from the area council secretariat.”

Michael Ozumba Chidi, who owns an electronics shop in the quarters, echoed these concerns. He said the stench is so overpowering that he must cover his face daily.

“Every time I walk from my house to the shop, I have to use a handkerchief or a face mask,” Chidi said. “My customers and neighbours can’t even stand in front of the shop for five minutes because of the smell.”

Chidi recalled that late last year, residents and neighbours near the stadium filed a joint complaint with the environmental officer, but no action was taken.

“I personally joined the group to meet the officer in charge at the area council.

He claimed a contractor from the FCTA is responsible for the evacuation and promised to reach out to them, but until today, nothing has been done,” he added.

Ibrahim Alhassan, a senior civil servant with the FCTA and a local resident, also expressed concern over the mounting waste, noting a particular risk to public health.

“It is unfortunate that some residents still fetch drinking water from a borehole close to this dump,” Alhassan said. “The problem is a lack of leadership zeal to tackle health threats. This refuse has been piling up for over a year, and the authorities haven’t seen fit to do anything about it.”

He argued that while waste evacuation is technically the responsibility of the FCTA, the area council’s environmental department should intervene for the sake of its residents.

He also expressed fear that if the waste isn’t cleared before the rainy season, the blocked drainage could lead to severe flooding in the stadium area.

The situation is similar in Gwagwalada, where Abuja Metro observed that refuse has taken over major thoroughfares, including the popular Tipper and SDP junctions linking the Abuja-Lokoja highway.

Other affected areas include the Hajj Camp quarters, the road behind the University of Abuja mini-campus, and the route linking Phase III to the Customs Command and Staff College.

Efforts to reach Alhaji Abubakar Jibrin Kuje, the Head of the Environmental Department in Kuje Area Council, were unsuccessful as his phone was switched off.

However, an environmental staff member at the council, speaking on the condition of anonymity, stated that the council no longer handles waste removal since the FCTA engaged external contractors.

“I don’t think the area council should be blamed, because Wike has already engaged contractors for the job,” the source said.”

It would be recalled that the minister had recently directed the waste contractors to resume work immediately or risk contract revocation.

While some immediately started work at Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), the situation is not the same at other area councils.

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