By: Abba Onyekachukwu, Abuja.

The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, has given solid waste management contractors in the FCT a stark warning: improve sanitation in the FCT immediately or face contract termination, according to a press release from Rabi Musa Umar, the Assistant Director Press, Office of the Minister recently.

Addressing 54 contractors awarded waste cleaning contracts in the FCT, Wike emphasized that effective waste management is critical to the FCT’s development and that excuses for poor performance would not be tolerated.

“I want to plead with you to see it that you are carrying out an assignment for the development of our capital city. Please help us to keep the city clean,” Wike said, adding that a Task Force would be set up to monitor their operations and payments would be subject to satisfactory performance.

The Minister warned that any contractor found neglecting their duties would have their contract terminated, saying, “This will not be business as usual. You must work during the weekend and have a special team to evacuate waste.”

Wike also directed the Director of Procurement to assess the capacity of companies allocated multiple operational sites, stating that excuses related to bad equipment would no longer be accepted.

The contractors, who were selected from over 500 applicants, have been warned to take their responsibilities seriously, with Wike assuring residents that their feedback on the contractors’ performance would be taken into account when processing payments.

Responding to an appeal for payment of outstanding eight months’ arrears, Wike noted that some areas were not serviced by contractors in the past, but assured that payments would be made strictly on merit.

The Coordinator of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), Mr. Felix Obuah, said the contractors had been issued letters of award and assigned different beats across the FCT, while the contractors pledged to ensure a clean FCT.