Federal Secretariat Complex inflicted by filthy toilets, irregular water supply

POOR supply of water in Nigeria’s Federal Secretariat Complex located in the nation’s capital, Abuja, is frustrating government workers, as toilets within the building are filled with filths, producing unpleasant smell around the corridor.

For two days, The ICIR visited Phase One of the complex and the reporter observed the poor sanitary condition of the government facility that houses offices of federal ministries including the Ministry of Niger Delta, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Ministry of Aviation, Ministry of Women Affairs and Police Service Commission.

There was no water in most of the toilets from the first floor to the fourth floor when the reporter visited on Tuesday, October 22.

That day at about 11:30 am, a woman in her late fifties was pressed and hurried to the ladies on the first floor close to Wing A, but a voice stopped her. “Madam, no water!”

It was the voice of a woman selling sachet water by the staircase near the toilets on the first floor. she had noticed that the woman going to the toilet had no water with her. Too pressed to bother, the middle-age woman hurriedly bought a sachet of water at N10 before she proceeded to ease herself.

Taking a cue from the woman, this reporter also purchased two sachets of water at N20 and entered the restroom. Inside, water nylons littered the floor and the offensive smell of the lavatory became stronger. The handwashing dispenser was not functioning, and there was no single roll of tissue paper in sight.

“So, if there is no water, can pure water flush anything?,” the woman asked The ICIR reporter without expecting an answer.

The reporter visited the toilet on other floors, and the situation was the same. Some in fact were in worse condition because they have been abandoned.

A federal staff on the third floor where the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs is situated told The ICIR there has been an irregular supply of water in the complex for more than a month. When there was water, it never circulated to all the floors, she told The ICIR.

“There could be water on the sixth floor, and not on the second floor,” she said.

“If they should bring it around 7 am, before 9 am it has gone,” she added.

“As I am talking to you now, I want to use the toilet that is why I am holding this tissue in my hand, I want to use the toilets but there is no water. It is not easy,” she had lamented.

READ MORE: https://www.icirnigeria.org/filthy-toilets-irregular-water-supply-thrive-in-federal-secretariat-complex/