The Jigawa State Environmental Protection Agency (JISEPA) says it collected and disposed 17,440 tonnes of waste across the 26 Local Government Areas of the state in 2017.
Acting Managing Director of JISEPA, Alhaji Umar Amadu, said this in an interview with News Agency of Nigerian (NAN) in Dutse, the state capital, on Tuesday, January 30, 2018.
Amadu said that the exercise was part of the proactive measures put in place by the state government to promote effective waste management and sanitation in urban and rural communities.
He said that the policy was also aimed at improving public health and hygiene in the state.
“The exercise involved collection of refuse from streets and markets as well as clearance of drainage channels and cutting of grasses in boarding schools,’’ he said.
The acting managing director said that the agency would continue to sensitise the public to the need to always keep their surroundings clean and imbibe good sanitary habits.
Amadu urged the people to cooperate with the agency in its efforts to keep the state clean, while desisting from arbitrary dumping of waste in residential areas and waterways.
He commended the state government for its support to agency.
“We really thank the state government for providing us with all the needed equipment, manpower and logistics for the smooth conduct of our assignment.
“We are assuring the people that we will continue to do our best to ensure that the residents live in a good and healthy environment,” he added.
NAN recalls that the agency reportedly collected and disposed 26,420 tonnes of waste across the state in 2016.
