Sanitation: Nasarawa arrests, prosecutes 42 persons for violating Sanitation laws

From Francis Nansak, Lafia

Being the last environmental Sanitation for the year 2020, a total of Fourty-two persons have been arrested and prosecuted for violating sanitation laws in Nasarawa state.

Chief Prosecuting Officer, Abubakar Muhammed made the revelation on Saturday in Lafia while speaking with newsmen after the sanitation exercise.

He explained that those arrested and prosecuted did not participate in the exercise as they were seen operating their normal businesses, leaving their environments unkept.

“Their offenses ranges from defaulting, instead of cleaning their environments, they were seen going about their businesses and we will not allow such to continue in the state.

“We are holding the sanitation exercise today because the last saturday of the month and the year will be on boxing day so we had to shift it back by one week so that there will be total complaince”, he said.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr Jonathan Kwaghkaha expressed satisfaction with the level of complaince in the sanitation exercise.

According to him, “The activities of Okada and Tricycle riders in the state during sanitation exercises have drastically reduced and I am happy about it. The rate of participation is gradually increasing, I am optimistic that by next year the complaince level will be better”, he said.

Speaking on what the ministry is doing to tackle the second wave of Covid-19, he explained that the ministry has started fumigating the environment in order to ensure that the pandemic do not affect citizens of the state.

“Fumigation of the environment is currently ongoing to ensure that the state is safe. We should always follow the Covid-19 guidelines by maintaining social distancing, washing our hands regularly and using face mask anytime we are in public places”, he said.

It would be recalled that the incumbent administration of Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule,reintroduced the monthly sanitation few month upon assumption of office as governor of Nasarawa state,to support some casual workers earlier engaged to sweep the street in Lafia.

Two of the cleaners who are mostly women ,have gotten the state sponsorship to Jerusalem on the christian pilgrimage.