The Kuje Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has commenced the clearing of drainage channels and evacuation of waste across the council to prevent flooding during the rainy season.
The Chairman of the council, Hon. Danjuma Samuel Shekwolo, disclosed this while inspecting the exercise on Wednesday.
Represented by the Director of Environmental Health, Gloria Apugo, Shekwolo said the exercise formed part of the administration’s commitment to improving environmental sanitation and eliminating heaps of refuse dumped in drainage channels, particularly around the Kuje Township Stadium.
He said the initiative was aimed at clearing blocked drainages, eliminating illegal refuse dumps and promoting a cleaner and healthier environment across the council.
According to Apugo, the Environmental Sanitation Committee immediately mobilised to the affected locations, deploying trucks and a wheel loader to facilitate the evacuation of accumulated waste.
She added that sanitary guards and vigilantes would be stationed at the sites to enforce compliance and prevent indiscriminate dumping of refuse.
Apugo said the prompt commencement of the exercise demonstrated the council chairman’s commitment to fulfilling his campaign promises and improving environmental sanitation across the area.
‘The chairman remains resolute in his determination to rid Kuje of indiscriminate waste dumps in order to create a cleaner, safer and healthier environment for all residents. He is committed to delivering practical and lasting solutions to environmental challenges across the council,’ she said.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Sanitation Committee, Habakkuk John, said residents would soon begin to enjoy a cleaner and healthier environment.
‘We expect the evacuation of refuse to be completed within three days, while the clearing of the drainage channels will take about one week,’ he said.
He noted that the accumulation of refuse, particularly around the Kuje Township Stadium, had become an eyesore and posed a serious health risk to residents.
A resident, Barrister Raji, commended the council for the initiative and urged it to sustain the exercise.