Abuja Cleaning Contractors Threaten Strike Over Nine Months Unpaid Fees
Sanitation contractors in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have threatened to suspend waste collection and cleaning services in Abuja from September 25, 2025, over nine months of unpaid fees.
The warning was issued in a letter addressed to the Coordinator of the Abuja Metropolitan Management Council and signed by the Association of FCT Solid Waste and Cleaning Contractors (AFSOWAC).
According to AFSOWAC, its members have not received payments since January 2025, despite continuing to provide sanitation services across the city.
The association oversees 44 sanitation lots in Abuja.
Contractors deploy over 60 tippers and 100 garbage trucks daily.
More than 1,000 tonnes of waste are evacuated from the city every day.
AFSOWAC warned that without immediate payments, its members can no longer guarantee continuous services in the capital.
The contractors revealed that they had relied on both formal and informal financing to sustain operations, but those resources have now been exhausted.
Other key concerns raised include:
The “deplorable” state of the Gosa dumpsite
Outdated contract rates that do not reflect current realities, including subsidy removal and naira devaluation
Abuja’s growing waste accumulation as a result of payment delays
Daily operational directives from the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) without addressing financial obligations
AFSOWAC urged the FCT Administration to:
Release outstanding payments immediately
Review and update contract rates to reflect today’s economic conditions
Accelerate the procurement process initiated in October 2024
Improve access to modern sanitation equipment and landfill facilities
The group warned:
“We have reached a point where passion and commitment alone cannot sustain this essential service. Without payment, we cannot continue.”
They further cautioned that any disruption in sanitation services could jeopardize public health and safety in the capital city.
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