By Abigael Joshua
Mr Osilama Braimah, Director of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), has retired after a meritorious 35 years of service.
Braimah described his years of service as worthwhile, during a pull-out ceremony organised by the agency’s staff.
“I worked with different ministers and the challenges each time were different.
“When I joined the service 35 years ago, a lot of facilities that were not available then are present today.
“For example, we did not have a major sewage treatment plant like we have now. This was built during the time that I was in service the Wupa Wastewater Treatment Plant.
“It is a major sewage treatment facility serving the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) of Nigeria, located in the Idu Industrial Area of Abuja.
“We were able to build other sewage treatment infrastructure in Katampe, in Guzape, all during the period that I was here.
“In that same period, we moved our solid waste dumpsite from Mpape to the present site in Goza.
“So, we’ve done a lot and the whole idea was to be able to build a first-class city with proper and effective waste management systems,” he said.
Braimah commended the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, for putting road infrastructure in place, saying this has also greatly enhanced AEPB’s operations regarding waste management by enabling the waste conveyance trucks to move faster.
“If you move around Abuja today, you’ll agree that it’s a city that is fast developing, that can compete with any modern city in the world,” he explained.
He said there is an ongoing procurement contract which will give a new lease of life to waste management in the FCT.
“The old contractors are being replaced for new ones to come on board with fresh energies and in the next couple of weeks I can assure you that you’re going to see a far far cleaner FCT.
“This is what we intended to achieve. And if you look around Abuja today, you will agree that we’ve achieved most of it,” Braimah said.
The outgoing AEPB director further stated that the bottom line was that AEPB was able to serve the FCT particularly and Nigeria in general.
“So, it was a memorable period with challenges up and down but I think we were able to achieve what we set out to achieve.
He urged the staff of AEPB to be committed, dedicated, urging them to understand that AEPB is a common home.
“We have nowhere else to go even if you go to any part of the world, you always come back,” he said. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Sadiya Hamza
