Wastes: Nasarawa Govt to prosecute culprits
NAN-HG-1
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Keffi (Nasarawa State), Nov. 9, 2016 (NAN) The Nasarawa State Government warned on Wednesday that it would prosecute individuals found dumping refuse indiscriminately across the state.
Retired Capt. Tanko Auta, the Director-General, Nasarawa State Waste Management Bureau, issued the threat on Monday in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Keffi.
Auta said the wastes constituted health hazards to residents and cause flooding.
He therefore advised residents and shop owners to avoid indiscriminate dumping of refuse so as to avoid sanctions.
The director-general warned that the state government would not spare any individual who undermine its efforts at ensuring clean and healthy environment.
“The Nasarawa State Government under Gov. Tanko Al-Makura administration is doing its best in keeping the environment clean.
“It is also the responsibility of everybody to complement government efforts by keeping his or her environment clean.
“It is often said that a healthy nation is a wealthy nation, it is on this note that the government and stakeholders are always advising the people on the need to maintain personal and environmental hygiene in the country.
“That is why, the state government will not spare any individual dumping refuse indiscriminately as it will apply the necessary law to prosecute culprits to serve as deterrent to others,” Auta said.
According to him, the state government had established Nasarawa Waste Management Bureau in Keffi zone with the mandate of promoting sanitation in the state due to the importance of clean environment to human health.
He also advised residents and shop owners to always dump their refuse at designated points in the interest of public health and for the overall development of the country.
“Dumping of refuse in to gutters, markets and other places indiscriminately could also be a breeding ground for mosquitoes which is dangerous to human health which could lead to the spread of communicable disease.
“That is why, we urge residents of the state to keep their dustbins tightly and to cover it at all times as debris from uncovered dustbins goes straight into gutters,” he added.
The director-general reiterated the state government commitment and efforts in ensuring a clean, hygienic environment and the maintenance of drainage channels as part of strategies to improve on the lives of residents. (NAN)
AKW/MST/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola