FG Takes Waste to Wealth Programme to Grassroots

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

The federal government has taken its waste to wealth programme to the grassroots, promising to transform waste to wealth in Kuchingoro, a community in Abuja.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Mallam Ibrahim Yusufu made the remarks at the 2023 National Environmental Sanitation at Kuchingoro yesterday.

Yusufu, represented by the Director, Pollution Control and Environmental Health, Mr Usman Abdullahi, said the ministry would enlighten the community on waste segregation.

He said: “You can convert that waste to wealth where you separate your plastics and biodegradables. These biodegradables can be converted to compost and these plastics can also be converted for use.”

In his response yesterday, District Head of Kuchingoro, Umar Dogo commended the different stakeholders on environmental sanitation that graced the event in the community.

He assured that everyone in the community would support the initiative, while thanking the stakeholders for the supply of tools to carry out the environmental sanitation exercise in the area.

The Country Director of Breakthrough Action Nigeria, Mr Ian Tweedie, said that Kuchingoro stands out in the area of environmental sanitation.

Tweedie, represented by the organisation’s deputy project director, Mrs Olayinka Umar-Faruk, assured the community continued support.

He said: “Our support is in the area of social and behavioural change, for any disease to transmit our hands play major roles, so we can all do better by starting with personal hygiene.

“We have a lot of waste management programmes, we can convert waste to wealth, we can also support our community better in ensuring that waste is properly managed.”

Tweedie further urged them to have a good toilet facility within the community, expressing optimism that there would be more collaboration on community sanitation and overall improved health in the community.

He commended the community for partnering with stakeholders on environmental sanitation in the area.

Hon. Bako Kaindu, who represented the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), said that Kuchingoro  is usually organised when it comes to the issue of environmental sanitation.

He urged the community to have a database of people living within it, even as he advised stakeholders to take the sensitisation on sanitation to other communities.

He promised to support them to realise a sanitised environment and how to manage their waste, noting that poor waste management had caused a lot of problems in this country thereby urging them to manage their wastes properly.

Highlights of the occasion include distribution by stakeholders in the environmental sector of sanitation tools to the community for cleanup programmes.

Items distributed include cartons of soaps, rakes, shovels, dustbin bags, nose masks, hand gloves and brooms.