By Jack Acheme, Kano
Kano State Government in north western Nigeria, has cautioned residents against indiscriminate dumping of refuse that causes serious threat of flooding and outbreak of diseases in the state.
The State Commissioner of Environment, Nasiru Sule Garo, handed down the caution while addressing Newsmen in Kano, as part of activities marking the 2023 National Environmental Sanitation Day with the theme: ‘Promoting Sustainable Waste Management for a Healthy Environment’.
He said it is significant for the public to complement government’s efforts in addressing the threat of flooding by stopping to dump refuse, engaging in regular cleaning of drainages and premises especially now that raining season is in full force.
“I wish to call on the general public to desist from indiscriminate waste disposal, especially on our streets and drainages which causes serious threat of flooding and outbreak of diseases,” he said.
According to him, Government has taken measures with relevant agencies including the state emergency agency over flooding predictions by NIMET in Tudum Wada and Sumaila Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.
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The Commissioner lamented that the results of human actions today, which includes: open burning of plastic wastes, deforestation, greenhouse emissions, indiscriminate waste disposal, open defecation among others are slowly making the environment unfavorable for survival, thus called for caution.
“We should also encourage personal and interpersonal hygiene by making our houses, markets and other places clean and tidy,” he advised.
He said the NNPP led government in the state focuses on environmental sustainability, stressing that a lot has been done in the areas of solid waste management among which are resuscitation of REMASAB.
“Others are approval of 20 thousand seedlings for tree planting in residential, institutional, roadside and commercial areas. Inclusive are the repairs of 10 numbers of refuse trucks and recovery of some” which were taken away by individuals.
“The ministry has equally planned to demolish buildings erected on waterways, right of ways and green areas that are causing flooding. This will also help to restore the Kano state master plan.
“Similarly, the state government will continue to provide legal framework for environmental sustainability in the state,” he added.
