Following The ICIR Investigation, Satellite Town Development Department (STDD), has responded with an actionable measure to the waste mismanagement within the Nyanya and Karshi communities, even though they failed to provide a lasting solution.

Recall that the department was called out in an Investigation by The ICIR that revealed how poor waste management jeopardises public health, affects businesses, and pollutes the environment through indiscriminate waste disposal caused by their irregularities.

The Satellite Town Development Department (STDD) is responsible for the planning, development, and maintenance of satellite towns, urban areas designed to ease congestion in major cities. It oversees infrastructure projects, including road construction, waste management, drainage systems, and public utilities, to ensure sustainable urban growth.

Response

The agency has responded by evacuating some of the dump sites in environments like Kurudu and Karu areas of Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC). However, they have failed to provide commercial waste bins in the affected areas as the community residents have returned to dumping the refuse indiscriminately.

Recall that the investigation also revealed that some of the locations do not have a waste collection bin, which exacerbates indiscriminate waste disposal in those areas.

On May 4 2025, The ICIR visited the locations and discovered the presence of the department’s heavy trucks and payloader which signifies that while it has been actively evacuating the waste there was no placement of the waste bins to change the practice of indiscriminate waste disposal, especially at the bank of the road.

The ICIR sought to know from the PRO of the STDD, Meeme Felicia, if their actionable measure would include providing waste bins in these locations. She responded that the only measure she was aware of is the sole evacuation that was ongoing.

She said it would be good if The ICIR could contact the FCT Minister, Nyseom Wike, to obtain information if the provision of commercial waste bins was being planned.

This shows that the department is yet to provide a lasting solution on waste management in the areas, despite being allocated ₦116 billion from the FCT 1.15 trillion 2024 budget for infrastructure and waste management projects. It is, however, not clear how much was disbursed.

The ICIR investigation had proffered how strategic placement of waste collection bins can eradicate improper waste disposal and eliminate indiscriminate waste disposal which poses health hazards in these areas.

While there have been some responsive actions by the STDD, the lack of comprehensive and sustainable waste management solutions continues to pose environmental and public health risks in Abuja’s satellite towns.

Read the investigation HERE