Ministry Seeks Collaboration With Relevant Stakeholders On Sanitation

Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources says it would partner with relevant stakeholders for the effective implementation of the monthly sanitation in Nasarawa state, North Central, Nigeria.

The State Commissioner of Environment and Natural Resources, Hon. Yakubu Kwanta stated this after the monthly environmental sanitation in the Akwanga Local Government area of the state.

He called on members of the public to always keep their environment clean to guard against outbreaks of diseases.

“Residents should cooperate more with the government towards ensuring that the slate is clean in their best interest.

“If the environment is kept clean, it will guard against a possible outbreak of any disease, thereby ensuring improved healthy living of the people,” Kwanta said

He further said that the enforcement teams arrested 106 persons for allegedly violating environmental sanitation laws across the 13 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.

The commissioner explained that 31 persons were arrested in Akwanga, 21 in Lafia, 29 in Karu, four in Nassarawa-Eggon, six in Awe, five in Kokona, seven in Keffi and three in Obi LGAs respectively.

He said the offenders who were arrested for transacting their private businesses while the sanitation exercise was in progress violated the provisions of section 9 (2) of the State Environmental Sanitation Law.

He explained that the offenders were prosecuted by Mobile Courts in the local council to serve as a deterrent to others.

Kwanta expressed satisfaction with the level of compliance by the residents of the state, adding that shops and business environments were temporarily closed during the period of the exercise.

“We only allowed those with permission from relevant authorities and those on essential services to pass and move around during the exercise,” he added.

Voice of Nigeria, VON, reports that the last Saturday of every month was set aside for sanitation exercises in the state by the state government.

The Commissioner, therefore, said that the ministry had issued notices to residents to clear ‘drainages’ around their houses and business premises to avert flooding.

Shakirat Sadiq