From Fred Ezeh, Abuja

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Concerns are mounting in some parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, over a possible outbreak of epidemics. These fears are inspired by the inability of the FCT administration to evacuate some heaps of refuse occupying spaces at strategic residential areas.
Apart from the heaps, there are overgrown grasses that house dangerous reptiles covering residential areas and recreational centers in some parts of the capital city. Precisely, residents of Nyanya, Karu and Jikwoyi are the worst hit. Heaps of refuse have taken over the roads and streets in these places, thus making life uncomfortable for both motorists and residents through the offensive odour it produce.
Evacuation of refuse dumps in these areas is the sole responsibility of AMAC and not the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), in accordance with the agreement signed by the FCT administration. Residents believe either minor disagreement with duty terms or cash crunch resulting in delay in payment of contractors handling the refuse evacuation in these areas could be responsible.
But the media aide to Abuja municipal Area Council (AMAC) chairman, Mr. Dayo Lawal, was quick to dismiss the issue of nonpayment of contractors due to cash crunch. Interestingly, he refused to state the reason for the absurd situation. The implication is that the residents are forced to resort to “self help”, by dumping the refuse in drainages when it rains or by the roadsides.
A resident, Mr. Aliyu Surajo, who expressed worry over the development: “We have not had such experiences in the past. Under normal circumstances, the refuse heaps are evacuated on daily basis. But it is a different story now, it is running into weeks that refuse heaps are left unattended to.
Just imagine the kind of contaminated air, harmful to the health that we have been inhaling for weeks now. We live in fears of epidemic outbreak. We don’t have access to fresh air because we can’t open our windows due to the offensive odour that saturates the air.”
However, Minister of FCT, Mallam Musa Muhammad Bello, came under heavy criticism from the residents, particularly those in the satellite towns over his seeming inability to make his mark after several months in office.
Some even claim ignorant of who the Minister of FCT is, “unlike some former FCT ministers like Mallam Nasir El-Rufai, Aliyu Moddibo and the immediate past Bala Mohammed whom we knew and felt their presence,” a resident said.
A civil servant who identified himself as Mr. Kayode described the development as an eyesore: “I still don’t know if we have a minister in FCT because there are no signs that we have one. Roads in FCT are terribly bad, traffic lights are not working, refuse everywhere, beggars, street traders and the ugly activities of hooligans have taken over Abuja.”