Nyesom Wike, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), says the ministry has concluded plans to reintroduce monthly sanitation to keep the city clean.

Mr Wike stated this in Abuja on Monday after a closed-door meeting with contractors handling different projects in the FCT.

He said he had already briefed President Bola Tinubu on the idea that at least two Saturdays in a month would be declared for sanitation from 7:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

He explained that the move would enable companies supporting the FCT with logistics to go to market and other public places to evacuate refuse.

According to him, for Abuja to be clean, everybody has to cooperate.

“So, if you spare three hours on a Saturday at home to clear the refuse and bring them out for us to evacuate and dispose, then that is the little way you can help.

“We are appealing to you (residents) to cooperate with us so we can achieve our goals.”

On street lights, the minister said there were some improvements: “We are not there yet, but I can assure you that everywhere in Abuja will be lit up.”

For those who have distorted the Abuja Master Plan, Mr Wike said the issue would soon be addressed.

He added that the Federal Capital Territory Administration was working out areas where the parks and the greens were supposed to be and those that were built on.

He also said the government would look into the issues of those who refused to develop their plots for many years.

Mr Wike said the President Tinubu-led administration would not continue to allow undeveloped land across the city where criminals were taking refuge.

He also said that attention would be given to satellite towns, beginning with a visit to the areas to determine the needs and decide on what can be done to improve their facilities and infrastructure.

He pointed out that there was no funding to intervene in all the satellite towns simultaneously but one at a time, subject to the availability of funds.

“It is unfortunate that contracts were awarded in virtually all the satellite towns, but where is the funding? The finding is not there,” Mr Wike said.

He said what was approved for FCT in the 2022 national budget was N15 billion for “not less than a trillion naira worth of contracts”, stressing the need for the ministry to prioritise its spending.

(NAN)