In a bid to enhance productivity in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), seventy staff of Area Councils Unified Services serving in various departments in FCT have been selected and converted into the health cadre.

The FCT Minister of State, Chief Chuka Odom who was represented by the Secretarys Area Council Services Secretariat, Engr. Chigbo hinted this yesterday at a workshop organized for the newly designated Environmental Marshals in FCT Area Services Commission.

He said environmental and health experts became united with the re-emergence of diseases thought to have been eliminated in the past due to lack of unhealthy environmental sanitation practices.

Engr. Chigbo noted that FCT is confronted with indiscriminate dumping of refuse, mindless littering of streets and bush burning especially during the dry season likewise the illegal felling of trees either for timber or firewood.This, he said, the FCT administration has put in place adequate machinery to ensure a zero tolerance to filth and environmental abuse by the residents.

He stated that the vision of making Abuja join the league of other first class capitals in the world by 20-20 will not be achieved if their role at FCT is not complimented by an effective grassroots based practice of sanitation and environmental conservation in various area councils.

While commending the staff of Area Council Service Commission for their foresight in the deployment of the environmental marshals, he appealed to all residents to assist in maintaining a healthy environment in FCT.

Responding, the chairman, Area Council Service Commission, Mr Joseph Maimagani maintained that the marshals are expected to network with environmental health inspectors in the planning, conception and execution of environmental activities in the Area councils.

Maimagani urged area councils to put in necessary regulatory framework for their operation by issuing environmental sanitation guidelines, adding that each marshal or team will be allotted operational beats for patrol and enforcement action.