Environment Commissioner angry with Nasarawa residents over sanitation
Nasarawa Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources Princess Margaret Elayo has expressed dissatisfaction with residents over their inability to keep their surroundings clean.
She vowed that the state must be kept very clean at all times and that she will re-activate the relevant environmental laws on residents to ensure that unnecessary dumping of refused on unapproved areas were met with resistance.
The newly posted commissioner stated this yesterday at the monthly sanitation exercise in the state, noting that proper sanctions will be put in place to sanctions okada, Keke Napep riders and other vehicle drivers to seize theirQ movements during the exercise.
“The experience is great, there is a lot of nonsense that I saw and I’m not pleased, I will seat with my team to re-strategise on what needs to be done, I see no reason when it’s just one month, you are asking to stay home for 2 or 3 hours to get your environment clean, them you are on the street especially the bike riders, Keke Napep.
“We will go on the Television to educate them, next time if I come out and see that, I will arrest them with their vehicles and we proceed with the legal law that will fix that aspect for us.”
She promised to provide big waste bin for residents to dump their refuse instead of dumping it on the streets”I see no reason why we will be dumping refuse on the streets irrespective of whether you have waste bin or not, it is unacceptable for you to take your refuse and drop it on the streets, you are creating a big health issue for the citizens of the State”
The commissioner also directs residents of the flood-prone communities to relocate to higher grounds to avoid any loss of lives if a flood happens.
The Commissioner said that the steps became imperative because of the prediction by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMET) as well as the bad experiences of the past where lives and property were lost to flooding.
She further said that some states have started experiencing flooding, and that is a further call for action to save lives.
“We are partnering with Chairmen of Local Government Areas (LGAs) and traditional rulers to show those affected by this relocation directive where they should go now for safety.
“They should pick up their valuables and leave their houses for now so that when flooding eventually happens, no lives will be lost,” she added.
Abubakar Mohammed, Chief Prosecutor Officer of the ministry said that 168 persons were arrested across the state for violating sanitation laws.
The Chief Prosecutor said that the offenders were arrested for transacting their private businesses while the sanitation exercise was in progress.
He said that the defaulters were prosecuted by various mobile courts because their actions violated the provisions of section 9 (2) of the State Environmental Sanitation Law
