The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has issued a stern warning to the Coordinator of the Satellite Town Development Department (STDD), Hon. Abdulkadir Zulkiflu, threatening to terminate his appointment if refuse littering major roads in parts of Abuja is not cleared by Monday.
Wike gave the directive on Friday during an inspection tour of ongoing projects in several FCT satellite towns, including Orozo, Apo and Karshi, where heaps of refuse were observed along major roads.
Despite the engagement of waste evacuators under the Private Sector Partnership (PSP) scheme, several communities across the FCT continue to grapple with poor waste management, a situation the minister described as unacceptable.
“In fact, you have taken it away from my mouth. I was about to warn the coordinator of STDD, that by Monday, if I see that refuse, I will not look at it, I will terminate his appointment,” Wike said. “I thank God you asked it because I was about to call him privately, but let the public hear, it’s unacceptable to us.”
He added: “If I see that refuse from Orozo down to Apo-Karshi by Monday or Tuesday, your job will be terminated. Whatever you can do, make sure this is handled. Look at this, it is very embarrassing. Those places are no longer villages, development has taken over the whole area. Nobody will accept that.”
During the inspection, the minister visited project sites in Karu, Karshi, and the Bwari–Kubwa axis. He described the Bwari–Kubwa Road and the Gbazango–Kubwa Road as critical infrastructure projects capable of significantly boosting economic activities in the areas.
According to Wike, the 16–17 kilometre Bwari–Kubwa Road is expected to ease traffic congestion and stimulate commercial growth along the corridor. “It’s a critical structural development that will boost economic activity in communities between Bwari and Kubwa,” he said.
The minister noted that the Bwari–Kubwa Road is scheduled for completion before the end of the year, alongside other key infrastructure projects across the satellite towns.
He also directed the National Commission for Civic Awareness to ensure landscaping and environmental improvement works in Karshi and surrounding communities are completed within the year, stressing that development in the FCT must be holistic and environmentally sustainable.
