Comrade Dankogi Congratules Wike on his appointment.. Say he will not disappoint Nigerians.
Oru Leonard
Secretary, Environmental Health Officer of Nigeria, FCT Chapter, Comrade Ismaila Haruna Dankogi has congratulated former Governor of River State in Nigeria, Barr. Nyesom Wike on his new appointment as Honourable Minister of FCT.
Comrade Dankogi noted that his recent appointment as Honourable Minister of FCT. Nigerians is obviously expecting more from him judging from his past records which has nicknamed him Mr Project.
He stated, “We are eager to see him working to replicate his workaholic attitude in FCT and therefore not in doubt that his coming to FCT will herald a positive changes we have been wishing to achieved.
“His appointment is a well deserved and we know he will not disappoint Nigerians, he will not disappoint FCT residents and as well as not going to give excuse for failure to Mr President who so much believed in his capabilities and strength to deliver in this onerous task to sanitize F T inline with his past records.
I consider his opportunity to serve FCT as an honor to further Politically market himself to Nigerian beyond his region.
But, permit me to briefly talk on Sanitation matters as recently echoed in his address. It’s a fact that clean environment promote wellness prevent disease. And the fact FCT is dirty, unkempt is obvious as everywhere is looking very bad,over shading of items, street trading activities, displays of wears for sales on roads set bat and on top of drainages, indiscriminate littering and dumping of refuse, street car wash activities and presence of shanties, unorganized kiosk has taken over the street.The commuters and passerby are also not helping matters as they throws dirt while driving, walking etc. Infact, despite the provisions of public toilet people prefers to openly defecate and urinate along the street. This ugly scenerio has continue inspite of the effort of my Association has tried to put in place to health educate and teach the residents on overall Community Sanitation.
“Then, it has been noted that this development is a fall out of multiple factors. Such as attitude of FCT residents, passer by, commuters, the Supervising Authority and as well as the Contractors that are charged with responsibility to evacuate Waste generated from the residents but most importantly, is the lack of political will from the past sitting Honourable Ministers as they have done little or nothing at all to give their maximum support to supervisory Agency and personnels to their best like what we witness during the time of Governor Elrufai as FCT Minister.
“The available record shows that the best performing Director of Sanitation do so with the available maximum power of every siting Minister’s who was ready to assume responsibility from the fall out during any assignments. Because, FCT has this peculiar challeges of bigmen and Ogas at the top everywhere whom no matter how determine you are, they can get you sacked with just a single call to higher Authority in position.
“Sir, it will interest you to note that the traditional Monthly Sanitation in FCT was stopped and cancelled because of the big men in FCT, and I can tell you that the cancellation has been on for over 8 years or there about that the FCT monthly Sanitation was last observed.
“These cows we see everywhere roaming about in the city centre were own by Nigerian senior Citizens that nobody can touch. Just like areas occupied by retired police officer are forbidden place for Sanitation official to visit because of being framed of allegations and charges. The staff discharging the Sanitation service responsibility are nolonger safe in the hands of the residents as they are constantly faced with mob attack, and sometimes are being intimidated by Nigerian police harassment on cases bothering on framed up allegations of homicide in the course discharging official responsibility.
“The laws and Supervisory Authority are nolonger protecting the staff while discharging responsibility deligiently. Simply because of fear aftermath of the exercise the Sanitation official has to be extra ordinary careful. Hence, the promotion of this unkempt society where citizens assume uncontrollable attitude. The personnel also lack logistics and welfare to discharge there duties as spelled out in the scheme of service.
“Then, In the circumstances above, the solution to this ugly situation is to kindly present this overview and humbly tender this appeal to Honourable Minister to bring back monthly Sanitation in FCT, throw his weights behind the Supervising Agency/officials, employ more Environmental Health Officer in line with WHO standard whose primary assignment is Environmental Sanitation and as well provide working logistics for staff because a situation where staff were made to take responsibility for site/field logistics to achieve success will always be a mirage.
I believe if the Honourable Minister address these challenges, there’s going to be change from this ugly trend which had assumed centre stage in FCT. And I can assure the Minister the maximum support and loyalty of our members (Environmental Health Officer Association of Nigeria, FCT Chapter) as they will put in their best to record a resounding success provided they are giving opportunity to officially discharge there responsibility inline with extant laws. Thanks for this opportunity aired the view of Environmental Health Officers Association of Nigeria FCT Chapter.
