Following an alarm raised by the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) over a N10 billion waste management debt owed by some Federal Government MDAs and private businesses, the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has begun sealing the premises of the defaulters.
Some of the affected entities who had their premises sealed on Tuesday, April 19, 2022, include the Federal Ministry of Works, Federal Character Commission (FCC), Merit House, Maitama and Murg Plaza.
Speaking during the exercise, Engr Osilama Braimah, Director of the AEPB said the affected MDAs and businesses refused to pay for waste management services provided by the board.
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He explained that the board had huge amount laying without payment efforts from the defaulters.
“We try to negotiate to have a better way to achieve results but there was no positive response. We have given them a payment plan but many of them refused to take this opportunity serious, and so the board then resorted to legal means to recover the debts. The board got court orders to seal the premises,” he said.
According to him, the exercise will cover all public and private offices owing the board.
A breakdown of the debt owed the AEPB shows that the Federal Ministry of Education owes N25, 838, 275, Federal Ministry of Defence, N17, 220, 775 and Federal Character Commission, N10, 128, 906.25.
Others include the Civil Service Commission which owes N2, 451, 649.50, Revenue Mobilization Allocation and Fiscal Commission N21, 683, 750, Federal Ministry of Health N14, 204, 843.75, Federal Ministry of Trade & Investment N19, 222, 287.50, Federal Ministry of Works N9, 998, 625 and the FCT Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps NSCDC N16,583,031.25.
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The Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement to the FCT Minister, Mr Attah Ikharo who led the enforcement said the operation followed the initiative put together by the Minister of FCT and the Permanent Secretary to recover the huge debts owed the board.
Speaking on the ongoing exercise, Mr Attah Ikharo, Senior Special Assistant on Monitoring, Inspection and Enforcement to the FCT Minister said the operation is in line with an the initiative put together by the FCT Minister and Permanent Secretary.
“The FCT Administration needs enough fund to build infrastructure and keep the city running. The Administration has decided to go after the Ministries, parastatals, agencies and private individuals.
“We cannot wait to see government’s money tied down. It is wrong for people not to pay for services rendered” he said.
