During his courtesy call at the corporate headquarters of LEADERSHIP Newspapers in Abuja recently, the chairman, Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Abdullahi Adamu Candido, spoke on the activities of his young administration and several critical issues of national concern, including steps being taken to address environmental challenges in AMAC. Abah Adah captured the momentThe issue of environmental abuse and the attendant health challenges in Abuja is one that calls for serious concern because it is getting worse by the day. What do you intend to do about the environment'Since I came on board, we have put in so much of the councils financial resources to address environmental challenges. But the more you put in resources the more it looks as if nothing has been done at all.There is this weekly intervention that we do in order to remove wastes from the corridors of the roads leading into the city, and even around areas like Jikwoyi, Nyanya, up to Panshin. But the problem is that, the people are not properly informed, and as such, whenever the refuse is cleared, in no time, you see it back there. If we had invested that money in any other project, I am assuring you that we would have gotten so much turn over.But we are back to the basics and that is to sensitise the people. We are also coming up with enforcement. Our enforcement is tailored towards ensuring that anyone who drops waste recklessly is punished for doing so. On the councils part, we will continue to do our best.Only last week or so we heard of an outbreak of epidemics in Damasa. And the challenge may not be unconnected to heaps of refuse and waste dumped by the people. What is your council doing about these health and environmental challenges'When we learnt about the epidemics which claimed the lives of 15 people in Damasa, about two weeks ago, the council quickly intervened and provided emergency services for the people. Unfortunately, the epidemic had claimed lives and it really touched the hearts of so many, especially AMAC as a government. So what we have done as a palliative, because we discovered it had to do with their source of water and their unhygienic way of life, was to go there to lecture the people on how they should always keep their environment tidy. The council also approved the construction of a bore hole and public toilet in the community for the residents.The department of works, has already moved to site. Hopefully, in the next one or two weeks, the projects will be completed. And it cuts across all the area councils. We have provided bore holes in about five or six communities, all targeted at ensuring that this kind of thing does not happen again. We are doing our best, to tackle such issues.Over the years, there has been agitation by the indigenous people of Abuja over demolition, resettlement, and compensation; what measures are you putting in place to address the concerns of these people'One of the reasons for this age long problem is inconsistency on the part of the government. You can never blame the people because they too are Nigerians. You cannot just walk into somebodys land and take all that he has. As a government, we will support the indigenous course for them to own their homes and also regain their freedom as citizens of this country which they are. But, like I said, the inconsistency in government policies on the issue has made it so difficult for resettlement and compensation. I think these people need to be integrated instead, let them feel a sense of belonging. It will be disservice and morally unjust for the people who are the owners of the land, no matter their inferiority or backwardness in education or otherwise, to be dispossessed of their property and taken elsewhere just like that. You cant just come and remove somebody from where he has been living and then just bring in another person. It is morally unjust. So even as part of government, I am advocating that the inhabitants be integrated instead of removing them unjustly for resettlement. They must be tolerated and accepted as rightful citizens. They should also enjoy the facilities that other citizens enjoy. The issue must be addressed now, or else, I am afraid, Nigeria, may be sitting on a time bomb. It will bounce back in the future when it may have become too late to handle.If you go round the FCT, you will discover that it is different from what it used to be some years back; some green areas have suddenly turned to football playing grounds, hoodlums are on the loose, operating everywhere, okada riders riding into the city centre at late hours of the night among others. What is your council doing to restore sanity to the system'The issue you just talked about is a consequence of corruption which has eaten the fabric of the society. You may disagree, but that is the truth. Unfortunately, the person at the helm of affairs today is Buhari. He always finds himself coming to power at very difficult and challenging times, not when things are smooth. It was rough the first time he came as military head of state and also, this second time. And it is the consequence of total neglect by past administrations which allowed corruption to become part and parcel of the system. In the last 15 to 16 years, the business of government was just stealing public resources. And here is a government with no resources to execute anything. In such a situation, what do you do' You look at the past and your tomorrow and then what you are doing today.The fact is that corruption must be checked and dealt with, otherwise the children we are giving birth to now will not come and meet another country called Nigeria. So what the government of the day is doing is the best, if only we can appreciate and be patient with the system. So your question boils down to the fact that Nigerians need to be sensitised. There must be a process by which organisations like yours can reach out to every doorstep of this country. The citizens must be reawakened to know that the destiny of this country lies in our hands. If we allow what has happened in the last 16 years to repeat itself, I am afraid, I will not be thinking of another country called Nigeria tomorrow. That is why I am preaching reawakening of Nigerians consciousness so that people can appreciate that we must change our ways of life totally, and not think that government is our problem.We are the government, and until we put our hands together, I dont think we can get the best out this country. We run a peoples oriented, transparent government with nothing to hide. That is why I promoted the idea of using the security vote of the council to provide employment and social services. You will recall that sometime in the past, the president, governors and council chairmen in the country, had what is called security vote, and it cannot be audited or accounted for. It is something that, on a monthly basis, is pushed to their account. But since we came on board, we said it shouldnt be used in the same manner. That was how we set up empowerment packages and the training of young unemployed Nigerians to provide social services that I told you about at the beginning.If I wanted to use the security vote, nobody will know. You cant audit it. That is just the tradition. But that is fraud. We should re-sensitise Nigerians. It is not just seeking for leadership; but what are you going to do with it. And that is what I am doing. By the grace of God, just like we started on the first day we came on board, I want to end the same way.As AMAC chairman, my salary is a stipend. I have decided to divide it into two. I said 50 per cent should go to the less privileged, while I use the other 50 percent to take care of my own family
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