By Stella Odueme
Pix. L-R. Francisca Eze, Joshua Ogbonna Jekwu, Aloy Etim, Chukwuemeka Alphonsus.
As parts of efforts to keep the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) clean and healthy, the Office of the Senior Special Adviser to the Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council on Environment and Health Services is partnering with the media and other stakeholders to keep the council tidy and safe.
Speaking on the partnership at the weekend, the Public Relation Officer AMAC Environmental Services Department, Mr. Joshua Jekwu Ogbonna at a press briefing recalled that although Abuja was numbered among the fastest growing cities in the world in terms of infrastructures, dirt has reduced it’s value very fast.
He however assured that with the inauguration of AMAC Environmental Campaign with a focus on adequate sensitisation of the people to embrace hygienic attitude, the environmental hygienic fortune of the FCT would be turned around.
“Some years ago, Abuja was one of fastest growing cities in the world in terms of infrastructures but dirt is reducing the value of Abuja. The hygienic level of our food items is very low which has made it impossible for typhoid fever to reduce in Abuja. Many residents cannot come out and enjoy nature at night.
“The rate of open defecation is not practiced even in the villages in some African countries. Careless trashing of waste by passersby is common.
“We are going to start with teaching, sensitization and telling them what to do, buy plastic bowls and place them by the sides of where roasted and cooked corns and others items are sold free but that will not be enough and that is why the major percent of the work is press work.
“To change a culture is a different thing, we have this culture of touching things like corn for a long time and attitude is not what you can just change overnight and that is why we will do a lot of sensitisation,” he said
“AMAC Partners Stakeholders on Environmental Campaign
As parts of efforts to keep the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) clean and healthy, the Office of the Senior Special Adviser to the Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council on Environment and Health Services is partnering with the media and other stakeholders to keep the council tidy and safe.
Speaking on the partnership at the weekend, the Public Relation Officer AMAC Environmental Services Department, Mr. Joshua Jekwu Ogbonna at a press briefing recalled that although Abuja was numbered among the fastest growing cities in the world in terms of infrastructures, dirt has reduced it’s value very fast.
He however assured that with the inauguration of AMAC Environmental Campaign with a focus on adequate sensitisation of the people to embrace hygienic attitude, the environmental hygienic fortune of the FCT would be turned around.
“Some years ago, Abuja was one of fastest growing cities in the world in terms of infrastructures but dirt is reducing the value of Abuja. The hygienic level of our food items is very low which has made it impossible for typhoid fever to reduce in Abuja. Many residents cannot come out and enjoy nature at night.
“The rate of open defecation is not practiced even in the villages in some African countries. Careless trashing of waste by passersby is common.
“We are going to start with teaching, sensitization and telling them what to do, buy plastic bowls and place them by the sides of where roasted and cooked corns and others items are sold free but that will not be enough and that is why the major percent of the work is press work.
“To change a culture is a different thing, we have this culture of touching things like corn for a long time and attitude is not what you can just change overnight and that is why we will do a lot of sensitisation,” he said
“When it comes to indiscriminate dumping of refuse, we are going to tell them over and over again but if it is repeated, a little action will be added with respect. This is not sending touts to go and catch people. We are trying to promote good environment and so even the way we approach people is important.
“We will add action but not after one day, maybe after two to three months of continuous sensitisation, you can be fined one or two thousand naira, that way, they will not do it again and we will start getting it right like this.
“Another thing is the issue of open defecation. All of this will be done through partnership and that is why we are partnering with the press first and then partner with every necessary agency like Primary Healthcare Centres and World Health Organization (WHO) among others.
“In a modern world, sensitisation is the most important and so even with the mobile court, we will make sure we tell people over again and again,” Ogbonna stated.
On indiscriminate dumping of refuse, he said; “we are going to tell them over and over again but if it is repeated, a little action will be added with respect. This is not sending touts to go and catch people. We are trying to promote good environment and so even the way we approach people is important.
“We will add action but not after one day, maybe after two to three months of continuous sensitisation, offender can be fined one or two thousand naira, that way, they will not do it again and we will start getting it right.
“Another thing is the issue of open defecation. All of this will be done through partnership and that is why we are partnering with the press first and then partner with every necessary agency like Primary Healthcare Centres and World Health Organization (WHO) among others.
“In a modern world, sensitisation is the most important and so even with the mobile court, we will make sure we tell people over again and again,” Ogbonna stated.
