By There was a mild drama in Abuja, the nation’s capital in the early hours of Tuesday after the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), in a daring move, sealed up the offices belonging to some government agencies over accumulated N10bn debt in waste management fees owed to Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB).
The affected offices include the headquarters of the Federal Ministry of Works in Mabushi district, Federal Character Commission (FCC) and Merit House in Maitama district and the ever-busy MURG Plaza in Area 10 of Abuja.
The action took place barely 24 hours after the AEPB Director, Osilama Briamah said the Board would seal up some government offices, hotels, shopping complexes, and residential buildings, among others from Tuesday.
Speaking during Tuesday’s exercise, Briamah explained that the AEPB provided waste management and other environmental services to the organisations and they refused to pay, adding that many defaulters were indebted to the Board without plan to fulfil their obligations.
“The Board got court orders to seal the premises. The exercise which has just begun will cover all public and private offices owing the Board,” he said.
The breakdown of the debts showed that Federal Ministry of Education owed N25,838,275, Federal Ministry of Defence – N17,220,775.00 and Federal Character Vommission – N10,128,906.25.
Others include Civil Service Commission – N2,451,649.50, Revenue Mobilisation and Fiscal Commission — N21,683,750.00.
Federal Ministry of Health – N14,204,843.75, Federal Ministry of Trade & Investment – N19,222,287.50, Federal Ministry of Works — N9,998,625.00, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Wuse – N16,583,031.25.
