AEPB vows to stop all forms of environmental violation in FCT

By Bisola Adeyemo

The Director, Abuja Environmental Protection Board, (AEPB), Engr. Osilama Braimah disclosed the use of mobile courts to deal with all forms of environmental violations, and houses without toilets requirements.

The director disclosed this in his office on Wednesday in Abuja, following the commencement of another round of mass trials for defaulters of waste service charges in various mobile courts established in the FCT.

The director said “The increase in the number of Mobile Courts from 8 to 13, was done, following the approval of the Permanent Secretary, Federal Capital Territory Administration, Mr. Olusade Adesola, to enable us to deal with more cases at every given time.

“Apart from revenue drive, we are using the mobile courts to deal with all forms of environmental violations from residents and individuals without waste bins or the required waste bin type or sizes are charged to court.

“We cannot keep the city clean without appropriate containerization of wastes.

“Other environmental violations that we charge people to court for, include not having the required toilet, damaged toilets, and connecting stormwater to the street.

“Situations that violate environmental laws are also being addressed, especially noise pollution, which has assumed a worrisome dimension in the FCT recentlyt. There have been numerous complaints from residents who can no longer sleep in their houses because of noise emanating from parks, gardens, and nightclubs. Night clubs have been told to soundproof their buildings, as those who violate the acceptable decibels required in the city will be charged to court.

While justifying the recourse to the courts to recover revenue from defaulters in the ongoing court sittings in the Federal Capital City, FCC, Engr. Osama Braimah said, “using the courts to recover our revenue for services rendered is the alternative available to us, considering that it is a difficult way to go. Court processes are difficult, however, since some people prefer to default on the payment of their utility bills, they are compelled to do so by the court.

“We may have no other choice than to sustain the process until people begin to pay their bills as at when due. Using the courts to recover our revenue is enshrined in our operational guidelines,” he said.

Addressing some of the gaps noticed from complaints of customers in the various courts, and steps that will be immediately taken to plug them, the Director revealed that he is aware of cases where bills owed by a previous tenant or occupant of an apartment now at large, is slammed on the new tenant. “In cases like this, we try to settle because the real defaulter has disappeared and it will be unjust to ask the new occupant to pay for a service he didn’t enjoy.

“This will end hopefully this year, as we try to clear the backlog.

“We start on a new slate next year, as we serve bills, we immediately follow them up since there is enough personnel to do so.

“Henceforth, we are going to make sure we collect our revenue for the year, as soon as we serve the bills. Cases of accumulating bills for several years and transferring liabilities to other persons will no longer occur,” he added.

He, however, urged residents to have a sense of social responsibility by coming to ask for their bills after they have enjoyed service and their bills have not been served.

“There are several people who come here to request for their bills to make payments since they are aware that it is not a free service that is being provided. It is a bit irresponsible on their part too to enjoy service and claim that they did not pay because they were not served their bills. This excuse will not fly with Magistrates and court Judges since they are also human beings who understand social responsibility and order,” he added.

“The Director revealed that the FCT Permanent Secretary is having a series of meetings with some software companies to develop appropriate billing software and also do comprehensive enumeration of property in the territory.”

Speaking also, Barrister Mrs. Cecilia Makoji, head Legal Unit of ( AEPB) disclosed that in the ongoing court sitting so far, about 3,900 summons were served, out of which, about 1,200 full payments have been made so far, 1,100 part payments have been made, and about 1,600 seal up orders have been given.

Barrister Charity Okharo, an Assistant Director, Legal Unit of AEPB said the court that sat in Garki 2, at Royal Kiddies International school, after its previous sitting at Kado, said that the names of defaulters appeared smaller on the court list because many of those that were summoned had gone ahead to make payments, hence their names were struck out.
Furthermore, she disclosed that the change in street numberings also affected as those serving the summons had to revisit the area to give the right summons to specific defaulters.

“At the end of the day, only twenty-four names were on the court’s list. We will continue the mass trial all week, pending further directives are given,” she noted.

“People had a hard time locating the venue of the court sitting and urged residents to pay their bills accurately and on time since it costs the government so much to continue to render service to them.

“Weekend trials will help a lot, especially for residential areas since everyone will be at home,” she said.