Traders, commuters convert Abuja bus-stops to public toilets

Traders and commuters are converting some bus-stops in the Federal Capital Territory into urinals due to the absence of public toilet facilities.

The practice is prevalent at bus-stops that witness heavy human traffic, especially around Wuse Zone 5 and 6, Jabi Motor park, and Utako area, among others.

It is a common sight to see men in particular, urinating in public view, thereby polluting the environment.

Reacting to the situation, a civil servant, Ibrahim Mohammed, expressed regret that two bus stops between Wuse Zone 5 and 6 are no longer comfortable for passengers waiting to board vehicles to their destinations.

Mr. Mohammed also described the environment around the area as “unhygienic”.

“Besides the inconvenience the situation poses to passengers waiting to board vehicles, it is an embarrassing situation for the country.

“Foreigners use this route, it is a bad remark on our identity before them,” he said.

Also commenting, Moses Atte, a resident in a building close to the bus-stop said that the environment is uncomfortable for residents of the area.

Mr. Atte appealed to the FCT administration to provide public toilets to discourage people from converting public facilities to public toilets.

Another resident, Idowu Sani, described the situation as unacceptable in view of the status of Abuja as the Federal capital city.

Mr. Sani urged the Abuja Environmental Protection Council to take the necessary action to provide public toilets at strategic locations to prevent the on-going abuse of the environment with waste materials, including human waste.