FG begins disinfection of FCT

As Nigerians strive to contain the spread of COVID-19 pandemic, the Federal Government has commenced the disinfestation of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to guarantee safe environment for residents. 
 
Minister of Environment, Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar, who flagged off the exercise yesterday, at the Federal Fire Service (FFS) Headquarters, Abuja, said it would be extended to other states. 
 
He explained that national decontamination and disinfestation programme was a collaborative effort between the ministries and Ministry of Interior aimed at curtailing the spread of the disease.

“The FFS has trucks that would be used to decontaminate the FCT, while Environmental Health Officers Registration Council of Nigeria (EHORECON) has the expertise that would mix the chemicals according to United Nations (UN) specifications.” 
 
The minister stressed that the exercise would capture all the danger-prone zones, noting that the immediate areas that would be decontaminated are motor parks, markets and government offices. 
 
Abubakar hinted that the exercise would be extended to residential areas after the decontamination of high-risk areas, urging the public to cooperate with the officers and abide by the rules to fight against the pandemic.
 
On his part, the Acting Registrar of EHORECON, Dr. Yakubu Baba, assured that the chemicals are not harmful to health and certified by the UN and World Health Organisation (WHO).

Explaining that the Council had earlier conducted the mapping of high-risk areas for the decontamination, Baba said the chemical is user-friendly and also safe for the environment. 
 
Also speaking, the Comptroller General of FFS, Ibrahim Liman, stated that the service has been preparing for the fumigation for the past three weeks, assuring that it would do its best to guarantee safe environment.