By Sarah NEGEDU
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has commenced the procurement process for new waste management contracts across the satellite towns, even as the Satellite Towns Development Department (STDD) undertakes interim evacuation in critical locations.
Coordinator of the STDD, Abdulkadir Zulkiflu, disclosed this during a waste evacuation exercise at a major dumpsite in Karu, Abuja Municipal Area Council.
Zulkiflu explained that the previous waste evacuation contract, which began in 2022, expired in April 2025, creating a gap in sanitation services.
“The main purpose of this waste evacuation is that, you know, initially there has been contracts going on here for the duration of three years. I think the contract was awarded since 2022 and the contract elapsed this year in April.
“So we are now carrying out another procurement process for the new award of contracts. The Honorable Minister has graciously given the approval upon that and you see the procurement takes some little period of time before it comes to a final conclusion. And over the time, because of this gap that is in between, you know what we say, waste is a continuous generational act.”
He added that the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, has since directed the department to immediately commence emergency waste evacuation across affected areas pending the conclusion of the procurement process.
“The Honorable Minister said that we should take is to bridge the gap between the procurement process and the award of new contracts that will come. And as you can see here, the waste evacuation is taking place, not under any contractor, but under the watch of the Satellite Towns Development Department, FCTA.”
He added that operations are also being extended to other communities such as Jikwoyi, Kurudu, Orozo, and Karshi, with the likelihood of extending the intervention to other area councils.
“The Honorable Minister has given me the direct order to come and start evacuating the waste across this Nyanya Axis down to Karshi and we are hoping after that, we are still going to look at other area councils because our main function is to intervene in the critical areas in terms of waste evacuation in the Satellite Towns.”
While acknowledging the difficulties of operating in densely populated corridors like Karu, Zulkiflu expressed concern over indiscriminate dumping by residents and called for better community hygiene practices.
He said the department would also appeal to the FCT Minister and relevant Area Councils to consider relocating or eliminating some roadside collection points that pose public health risks.
“As you can see, this place is designated for a collection point. A collection point is a place whereby all the dumps around a particular area can be brought and be kept there. But as you can see, we don’t have enough space here for the volume of refuse. Every one or two minutes, you see people coming here to dump refuse.
“It would be very nice if this kind of place, can be totally removed, that would have gone a long way. But we are going to appeal to the Honorable Minister to look into that, in collaboration with the Area Councils.”
Zulkiflu also noted that the department was simultaneously working on the dump sites to improve access for waste trucks, using bulldozers and other heavy equipment to clear the backlog.
