FCT Administration Orders Public Premises In Abuja To Obtain Health, Environmental Certificates Or Face Penalties

Affected premises were instructed to make payments directly into the FCTA Revenue account through an official payment platform.

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), through the Health Services and Environment Secretariat, has issued a demand notice to premises within the territory, directing them to comply with statutory environmental health requirements or face penalties.

.According to the FCTA, the notice is issued by the Environmental Health Services Department, states that the action is taken “pursuant to paragraph 2(c) of the Fourth Schedule to the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), Section 7(2,3) of the Third Schedule to the Federal Capital Territory Act Subsidiary Legislation 2007, Section 43 of the Public Health Act Cap 541, Section 51 of the FCT Public Health Act Subsidiary Legislation 2007 and Sections 16, 20(2, 3, 11, 13 & 15), 23, 45, 48 and 81 of the National Environmental Health Practice Regulation, 2024.”

According to the Secretariat, the measures are aimed at safeguarding “the health of residents, clients and workers in all premises” across the Federal Capital Territory.

The notice outlines mandatory services that premises are required to obtain, including sanitary inspection and the issuance of “certificates of fitness for habitation or continued use,” occupational health audit, environmental impact assessment, annual air quality and pollution assessment, as well as food handling permits for food establishments.

It further directed that “the required services are provided to your premises after payment of the relevant bill,” which includes charges for professional inspection reports, certificates of fitness for habitation or use, occupational health audits for 2025, food handling permits, and noise pollution assessment or compliance certificates.

FCTA

Affected premises were instructed to make payments directly into the FCTA Revenue account through an official payment platform.

The notice stated: “Kindly comply with these extant provisions of the law by making the above payments to FCTA Revenue account.”

The Secretariat explained that upon payment, premises are required to “present evidence to the above address, obtain official receipt and follow up to ensure you receive the services

It warned that “failure to obtain official receipt and the relevant certificates will be treated as non-compliance,” adding that “any cash payment or payment to any account other than the above will be regarded as invalid.”

The notice also emphasised that failure to comply within 14 days would attract sanctions.

It stated: “Failure to make all payments after 14 days of this notice will attract full penalty as stated in the National Environmental Health Practice Regulation, 2024.”

The demand notice was signed by the Director of Operations, Environmental Health Services Department, on behalf of the Director of Environmental Health Services, under the FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat.