Dr. Abubakar Muhammed and Ms. Beauty Ebu and other officials speak to journalists after the exercise.
NKRUMAH BANKONG-OBI/Lafia
For failing to observe the environmental sanitation exercise for September, as many as 126 people will face prosecution in Nasarawa State. This was made known by Abubakar Muhammed, the Chief Prosecuting Officer of the Environmental Sanitation Office and director of Enforcement and Compliance, Nasarawa State Waste Management and Sanitation Authority, while briefing reporters at the end of the monthly exercise in Lafia, on Saturday.
Muhammed said the defaulters were apprehended across the thirteen local government areas of the State. He said there was 85 per cent compliance as most shops and business premises were locked throughout the exercise which begins at 7 am and ends at 10 am on the last Saturday of every month. On the modalities for the cleaning exercise, Muhammed said people are expected to clean their surroundings, adding that “The Taskforce has been set up after the last sanitation to clean drains, notice has been served on residents and shop owners respectively to clean up their drains for ease of water flow.”
He said the dirt and sand collected would be evacuated to a safe dump operated by the government. “Our trucks are going round to evacuate the dirt to the final dump site. Nasarawa state is among the States that are predicted to experience flooding by the Nigeria Metrological Agency,” Muhammed said.
On her part, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Sule Abdullahi on Fire Service and Disaster Management, Beauty Ebu, said the government is tapping into all options to minimize the impact of flooding the State. To this end, she explained, efforts are being intensified to move people from the river banks and other vulnerable areas to highlands and safe grounds. She said the State is working through Ministries, Departments and Agencies to move those that need to be moved. “On our part, as a government, we will support the victims of the flood, particularly those whose crops, farmlands and houses are affected.
Mrs Ebu announced that various objects of transportation have been deployed to evacuate people in areas prone to the forecasted floods. She also pointed out that emergency relief materials are also being prepared to cater to the immediate needs of those who may be affected. “Government is fully prepared to distribute relief materials; both food and other items to the victims, should the flood occur as predicted. She pointed out that although the river banks are swelling, no death has been recorded in the State as a result of flooding.
Dr. Abubakar Muhammed Ms. Beauty Ebu and other officials speak to journalists after the exercise.