By Nneka Nwogwugwu
About 500 waste collectors who are dependent on waste for livelihood have benefitted from the empowerment workshop of Initiative for Advancement of Waste Management in Africa (WASTE Africa).
Also, personal protective equipment were distributed at the workshop in Abuja.
The training which was supported by the Swiss Embassy in Nigeria, Chanja Datti and the Coca-Cola Foundation, gave 500 waste collectors who are dependent on waste for livelihood, Health and Safety training, access to subsidized health insurance and personal protective equipment.
The Embassy of Switzerland in a speech by a Programme Officer, Ojoma Ali said, “This donation from the people and Government of Switzerland is in recognition of the desire for a better and cleaner world.”
In her remarks, Programme Manager, WASTE Africa, Ms. Juliet Odhikori said the training was aimed at educating the litter pickers in safe and healthy ways of doing their job.
The FCT Minister of State, Dr. Ramatu Aliyu who was represented at the occasion by the Acting Coordinator of Satellite Towns Development Department (STDD), Engr. Felix Nwankwo, noted that the training is a bold step towards ensuring that the environments are clean both in the City Centre and the Satellite Towns.
According to her, “It must be acknowledged that efficient solid waste management is a major challenge for developing countries including Nigeria. The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) which serves as the seat of government is also faced with the challenges of waste management.
“The frequency of household waste collections and the limited collection coverage has resulted to indiscriminate dumping of refuse and the littering of our streets, roads and waterways with garbage.
“To curb some of the solid waste management issues experienced in the nation’s capital, the Satellite Town Development Department (STDD) engaged cleaning contractors who employed litter control staff to clean the streets in our satellite towns.
”These workers are keeping our environments clean and protecting us from the health hazards of littering”.
Aliyu commended WASTE Africa for empowering litter pickers in the nation’s capital.
