By Emmanuella Oghenetega
Following the insistent complaints by residents of the Federal Capital Territory, on the lack of proper waste evacuation, that has resulted in an alarming pile up of waste in the city, the Minister of the FCT, Barr. Nyesom Wike has given a stern warning to the contractors of solid waste management, threatening contract termination if they default.
The Minister issued this charge in Abuja on Friday, November 14, 2025 when he held an interactive meeting with 54 solid waste cleaning contractors who were recently awarded waste clearing contracts in the FCC.
If you recall, in recent events, the Minister had been involved in an altercation with a military personnel, of which he received backlash from Nigerians in and outside the country, residents of Abuja therefore took the opportunity to complain about the dirtiness of the city.
Some residents complained that the heaps of refuse are fast becoming an all-too-familiar sight, an eyesore and a public health hazard.
Speaking during the interactive meeting with the 54 solid waste cleaning contractors, the Minister tasked solid waste management contractors in the FCT to ensure an immediate improvement in sanitation in the FCT, warning that excuses would not be tolerated, and warned that he will not hesitate to terminate the contract of any cleaning company if refuse is sighted in their allocated zone.
Wike emphasized the critical importance of effective waste management to the FCT and announced that a Task Force would be set up immediately to monitor the contractors’ operations, adding that future payments would be subject to satisfactory performance.
According to the Minister, “Management of waste is a very difficult job. So, I want to plead with you to see it that you are carrying out an assignment for the development of our capital city.
“So please, help us to keep the city clean. It’s a job that you applied for, nobody forced you. I assure you that your payment is not a problem. Do the job as required and do it very well. There will be no favouritism. Your job is what will speak for you and you must get the job done”, the Minister stressed.
“This will not be business as usual. You must work during the weekend and have a special team to evacuate waste”, Barr. Wike directed. He further mandated the Director of Procurement to carry out immediate checks to ascertain the capacity of companies allocated more than one operational site, stating that excuses related to bad equipment would no longer be accepted.
“Those who are given more than one slot, we have to know what capacity they have. If you are allocated two sites, we will not accept excuses of bad equipment. You cannot go and apply for jobs for two areas when you don’t have the capacity to deliver. We don’t want any area to be left behind. We want everywhere to be clean”, he stated.
Barr. Wike further urged residents to also provide feedback to the government on the contractors’ performance, assuring residents that their feedback matters in ensuring payments.
Responding to an appeal by the contractors for the payment of outstanding eight months arrears, the Minister observed that some areas, particularly parts of Asokoro, were not serviced by the contractors for periods in the past. He said that the outstanding eight months payments would be processed, but clarified that payment would be done strictly on merit.
Earlier, the Coordinator of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), Mr. Felix Obuah, confirmed that 54 successful contractors were selected from over 500 applicants, adding that the companies have been duly issued letters of award and assigned different beats across the FCT.
Speaking on behalf of the contractors, Mr. Ibrahim Babayo, thanked the Minister for the audience and urged his colleagues to heed the warnings, while also pledging the contractors’ commitment to ensuring a clean FCT.
