The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has been urged to urgently address Abuja’s waste management challenges to avert a looming public health crisis.
Temitope Ajayi, Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, highlighted the issue on Friday via his official X account. “My own Matter of Particular Concern (MPC) is the state of waste management and disposal in Abuja. Something has certainly broken with waste management and collection in Abuja that requires urgent fixing,” Ajayi wrote.
He added, “Refuse is taking over the city. Minister Wike should pay immediate attention to this. We salute his work in expanding road infrastructure and restarting many abandoned road projects and bridges. His achievements are very visible in this regard. The Minister must now avert public health crisis with heaps of refuse and odious stench taking over public spaces.”
Meanwhile, human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has called on President Tinubu to compel Wike to apologise for uncomplimentary remarks directed at a serving naval officer, Lieutenant A. M. Yerima, during a confrontation over a disputed property belonging to a former Chief of Naval Staff in Abuja.
Falana spoke on Thursday at the opening of the Legal Year of the Faculty of Law, University of Abuja, organised by the Law Students Association of Nigeria (LAWSAN), UNIABUJA Chapter. He stressed that both parties erred in law. While acknowledging that Wike was carrying out statutory duties under Section 11 of the Land Use Act, Falana said the minister’s failure to exercise emotional intelligence and the use of derogatory language toward the officer was inappropriate.
Citing a Ghanaian precedent where a minister had to apologise for remarks against a taxi driver, Falana emphasized the importance of dignity and respect in public office. “On no ground should a minister force himself and abuse the military officer. No minister has the power to call any Nigerian a fool. Mr President should compel the minister to apologise. He was lucky he was not shot,” he said.
Falana also noted that the officer’s actions were unlawful, as he prevented the minister from performing his legal duty while claiming to act on superior orders. “Those orders are illegal. But the minister went off track. Even the President can’t call any Nigerian a fool,” he added, praising the officer for maintaining patience during the encounter.
The twin issues Abuja’s worsening waste management and the FCT Minister’s controversial confrontation highlight growing public concern over effective governance, adherence to law, and the need for respectful conduct in official duties.
