Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammad Musa Bello has promised to give special award to any of the six area councils which is adjudged to maintain cleanest environment.
The who spoke today at the flagging-off exercise of the Household and Community Sanitation exercise in Kwali, the headquarters of the Kwali Area Council of the FCT said that his Administration has considered the policy of reward and punishment for environmental sanitation as a way of encouraging the residents to clean their immediate environment.
Muhammad Bello said that the chairman of the cleanest Area Council at the end of the year, would not only be recognized but enjoy certain privileges even at the national level through representing the territory.
The Minister reiterated that the issues of improved personal hygiene and removal of environmental nuisances in the Area Councils and Satellite Towns in the Federal Capital Territory, is on the front burner of the current FCT Administration.
He said that the need to go back to the old ways of keeping the environment clean necessitated the introduction of the FCT Household and Community Sanitation Exercise, even as he called on the Council Chairmen, Traditional Rulers and community leaders to key in.
He also promised that the traditional ruler in whose domain is the cleanest Area Council would also be adequately rewarded, giving assurance that the FCT Administration would support the Area Councils financially and with quality policies to drive this laudable programme.
“It is our duty individually and collectively to safeguard and maintain our environment because nobody can do it better than us.”
Muhammad Bello used the occasion to call on all the residents of the Federal Capital Territory to imbibe the Change Agenda of the Federal Government, by changing their attitude as political, traditional, community, religious leaders, civil servants and citizens.
The Minister noted that the community-based approach to environmental sanitation would lead to a more realistic and sustainable effort in maintaining the environment.
Chairman of Kwali Area Council, Mr. Ibrahim Daniel commended the Minister for introducing the Household and Community Sanitation exercise, saying that it would go a ong way in reducing incidences of avoidable diseases in the Territory.
He called on the FCT Administration to complete the Kwaita road under construction since 2004 as well as the Kwali Township roads.
The FCT Permanent Secretary, Dr. Babatope Ajakaiye, the Executive Secretary of the FCDA, Engineer Adamu Ismaila, several directors of the FCT Administration and all the four graded traditional rulers in the Kwali Area Council led by the Etsu Kwali also attended the flag-off ceremony. [myad]
