By Vivian Emoni
Abuja – Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) has urged the residents of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to engage in environmental sanitation and make it a collective responsibility.
The Acting-Director of the AEPB, Mrs Omolola Olanipekun, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday that the systemic sanitation of the environment would require a synergy between the board and the residents.
She also called on the residents to assist the FCT Administration (FCTA) in its waste management efforts by maintaining clean surroundings.
Olanipekun urged the residents to adopt good hygienic practices by desisting from dumping refuse indiscriminately around their homes
According to her, the board also needs timely information from the residents to enable it to discharge its statutory responsibilities to ensure a clean environment.
“In order to ensure a cleaner environment, the board’s intervention unit, in collaboration with Development Control Department of the FCTA, visited Jahi District in the FCT to clear an inconspicuous slum.
“The team cleared all the rubbish and empty bottles of codeine syrup, which can be harmful to our environment and health,’’ she said.
Olanipekun said that the board had commenced its public health sensitisation programme with the officials of the National Mosque in Abuja as the initial target.
She said that the board was focusing on worship centres, marketplaces, motor parks and other public places in its public sensitisation programme.
Olanipekun stressed the need for partnership between the board and leaders of such public places in efforts to sensitise the citizens to ideal sanitation and waste management practices.
The acting director said that the operations of AEPB involved refuse dumps management, proper use of waste bins by households, sewage connection and general cleanliness.
She, however, warned residents against street hawking and street begging, drying of food items on walkways or by the roadside, spreading of clothes on hedges, walkways and balconies as well as bush burning.
Olanipekun also warned the residents against noise pollution, unauthorised felling of trees and erection of illegal structures.
She, nonetheless, urged land developers to obtain Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approvals from the board before developing any plot within the territory.