ACReSAL boosts rural sanitation with new waste facility, 14 tricycles in FCT

NIGERIA – The Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project has inaugurated a modern waste management facility in Wako community and handed over 14 waste collection tricycles to Community Interest Groups (CIGs) in Sheda, both in Kwali Area Council, Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

During the inauguration, the Mandate Secretary of the Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Abdullahi Ango, urged residents to utilize the facility to improve sanitation and economic opportunities.

“This project is not limited to Kwali but extends to all six Area Councils of the FCT,” Ango said, noting that the initiative will curb disease outbreaks and promote environmental hygiene through community-driven waste collection.

Ango, who also chairs the ACReSAL Project Committee, disclosed that more community-focused projects are underway, targeting erosion control and sustainable land management across the FCT.

FCT ACReSAL Project Coordinator, Mrs. Caroline Opara, explained that the intervention supports the federal government’s efforts to end open defecation and improve waste handling.

“The tricycles were given to groups dedicated to maintaining sanitation and reducing indiscriminate dumping,” she said. Plans are also in progress to execute an erosion control project in Gwagwalada Area Council.

Local leaders welcomed the initiative, with Etsu Wako, Abdulazeez Usman, pledging community support for the facility’s maintenance.

Representing the National Project Coordinator, Amina Mustapha highlighted that the effort aligns with ACReSAL’s goal of promoting healthy, climate-resilient environments.

The ACReSAL program, jointly funded by the World Bank and the Federal Government, focuses on land restoration, water resource management, and community resilience in Nigeria’s semi-arid regions.

Similar innovations are emerging nationwide to tackle waste and promote sustainability. In Lagos, the Cleaner Lagos Initiative has introduced digital waste tracking systems and community recyclers to boost efficiency.

Kano State recently partnered with private firms to deploy waste-compacting trucks and recycling hubs, while the Oyo State government launched a waste-to-wealth scheme converting organic waste into fertilizer.

Experts say such initiatives are critical as Nigeria grapples with rising urbanization and waste generation.

According to the World Bank, Nigeria produces over 32 million tonnes of waste annually, with less than 20% properly managed.

Projects like ACReSAL’s, combining community empowerment with environmental action, mark a vital step toward a cleaner and more resilient future.

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