Abuja stinks as green areas are used as toilet

The Director of Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) Malam BabaShehu Lawan, who spoke with one of our reporters said the FCT Administration was very concerned about the issue of lack of public toilets in the city.

He said a committee was set up to look at the possibility of providing adequate toilet facilities for public use.

“The committee has already submitted its report to the chairman after which it will be submitted to the minister. The committee comprises several departments like FCDA department of engineering, urban and regional planning; development control and AEPB. The facilities have to be properly sited because Abuja is a planned city and if the facilities are not located at the appropriate places, other developments will affect them,” he said.

Lawan explained that the issue had already been taken into consideration and that in the meantime, movable toilets would be provided in strategic locations to serve the public.

“The administration is going for stationary toilets but in the interim, one way of reducing open defecation is to put in place the movable toilets which can also create jobs for youths.

“We are looking at about 50 movable toilets per district that will be put in place so that nobody will have reason to defecate in the open. The spacing will be about a hundred metres apart,” he added.

Asked when the movable toilets will be ready for public use, he said “In the next few months the toilets will be mounted in their strategic positions in different locations of the city.”