Epidemic looms in FCT

From Isaac Anumihe, Abuja

An epidemic is about to break out in the Federal Secretariat, Phase 1, Abuja, following a long absence of toilet facilities. The ugly situation prompted the over 1000 workers in the area to cry out for help.

At the time the secretariat was completed in 1993, it had over 10 toilet facilities on the ground floor. This apart from those in the private offices.

Over 15 key ministries, departments and agencies of government are located in the building including the ministries of aviation, health, labour and employment; science and technology among others.

Thirty years after it was constructed, dilapidation set in. In 2022, a contract was awarded by the FCT Administration (FCTA) to renovate the complex at the cost of N8.1 billion. While the construction was going on, all the toilet facilities were sealed off; although toilet facilities were provided for workers.

Those pressed during office hours close early to attend to their excretory needs while others trek almost one kilometre from the third floor to use the public toilets across the road.

Rather than use the alternative facilities provided, workers saw the renovation as inadequate and insensitive to their private needs.

Grace (surname withheld), told Daily Sun: “People now dread to go to office for fear of sudden development of diarrhea. Some, for fear of trekking down from third floor to ground floor and walking down to the location of the public toilets, they defecate inside their offices and throw the item to the ground floor.

“One day, one of them threw faeces on the head of somebody on the ground floor. Also, workers who have no money to pay for public toilets close before the official hour. So, man-hour is lost and productivity is imperilled.”

A deputy director who pleaded anonymity) said: “At my level I have no private toilet in the office. Sometimes, I do not eat the way I want because of the fear to visit the convenience.

“Usually when I want to empty my bowel, I drive down to Transcorp Hilton. Assuming everybody is doing the same thing, imagine the number of hours that would be lost on daily basis. In fact, some of my junior workers don’t come to office if they have the slightest ailment that can require them to step down.

“If you move around the complex you’ll perceive certain unpalatable odour as a result of people dropping faeces in polyethylene bags. This can cause another influenza.”

Iquo pointed to an improvised toilet facility by Julius Berger and asked the reporter to enter to feel for himself what the workers are experiencing. A container which was converted to a toilet has two sections. One for male and the other for female.

In the male compartment, there are two small doors for toilets. Most times, the highly unhygienic environment will not encourage anybody to use the facility. Iquo said: “If a man can find it very uncomfortable to use the convenience, what about a woman who stoops to urinate or defecate?

“I am very sure most of us must be treating some diseases which they contracted for no cause of theirs. Invariably, the government must be spending more money on health now than ever before. I will never use this facility (pointing at the container). I tried using it one day but I had to run out of the messy environment. Since then I have not gone near it”

The renovation was initiated by the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation in conjunction with the Development Control Unit of the Federal Capital Territory and the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC). It was expected to improve the safety of civil servants and boost their workplace productivity.

The pilot phase began with the remodeling of the ground floor of Block A, and the parking lot of the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase II, Abuja.