How poor funding cripple Abuja environmental board operations

The Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) is struggling to carry out its crucial environmental duties in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) due to a lack of funding and unpaid wages. The agency is responsible for tasks such as waste evacuation, clearing blocked sewage lines, and desilting drainage channels. However, its inability to access specialized equipment has made it difficult to complete these tasks efficiently.

One of the main challenges the AEPB faces is its lack of adequate funding. This has resulted in the agency owing its workers approximately one year’s salary, with casual workers being the majority of those affected. The issue has extended to the agency’s ability to purchase necessary equipment. For instance, the board does not have access to a specialized jet truck capable of dislodging sewage line blockages, which must be hired from construction companies if needed.

In the past, the AEPB would submit requests for additional funds to the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) for specialized maintenance. However, these requests are now being ignored. For example, the issue of refuse evacuation has become problematic as contractors have been owed for over six months, leading some to suspend their operations.

As a result, the AEPB has had to step in and fill the vacuum left by these contractors, further straining its budget. Additionally, the board lacks sufficient diesel to run its trucks, compounding the problem.

The consequences of this neglect are evident in the city’s infrastructure. Blocked sewage lines have led to flooding in various parts of Abuja, particularly in areas such as Maitama District, Area 1, Area 3 near Garki Hospital, Wuse Market, Utako District, and near the power house in Asokoro District. In one instance, liquid waste, including faeces, was seen leaking onto Mombasa Street in Zone 5, Wuse, Abuja, for over two months.

Despite these challenges, maintaining the environment is crucial for the health and well-being of Abuja’s residents. Dr. Hassan Abubakar, a retired AEPB director, highlighted that maintenance work is often more costly than constructing new projects. He stressed that agencies responsible for environmental responsibilities, such as traffic management, street lighting, and the maintenance of manhole covers, require regular funding and timely payment of their staff.

Abubakar urged the FCT authorities to provide adequate funding for the operational needs of the environmental board and other related agencies.