Kano State Commissioner for Environment, Dr Kabiru Getso, has lauded a female street sweeper, Mrs Hassana Bala, for hard work and rewarded her with N10,000.
Getso gave the award on Saturday, July 30, 2022, when he led the state Task Force Committee on sanitation to monitor the monthly environmental sanitation in Kano, the state capital.
He said that the woman had been reported to be discharging her duty with diligence since a portion was given to her for cleaning.
“We received a report that she even sweeps her portion even at night and ensures that it is clean at all times.”
While rewarding the middle-aged woman, Getso called on other sweepers to be always committed to their work.
He tasked them to emulate Mrs Bala, to keep Kano clean and healthy, thus preventing the waste from falling into drains.
He further stated that the ministry would officially recognise her to encourage others.
Getso, however, revealed that the government had set up Street Sweeping Monitoring Team, mandated to monitor the exercise in the state.
He said the team would embark on daily inspection and would be reporting to the Central sanitation committee under the chairmanship of the commissioner for environment.
In a related development, Gov. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State says his administration has engaged the services of 31 contractors to keep the state clean.
Soludo made the disclosure in a statement signed by Mr Christian Aburime, his Press Secretary in Awka on Saturday.
The governor directed that there should be a comprehensive sanitation in all the 21 Local Government Areas of the state.
He said the exercise was part of his administration’s determination to ensure a hygienic and healthy environment as well as the wellness of residents.
He said his administration would continue to sensitise people on the need to keep to their social responsibilities adding that “cleanliness is next to godliness”.
The governor said that, in the coming days, his administration’s Urban renewal plans would be achieved in line with global best practices.
“Thirty-one contractors have been engaged in Anambra to help keep the state clean.
“Traders in markets need bag their waste and dispose of them in designated areas.
“Those who trade on the roads, should desist from it and go into the markets,” he stated.
Similarly, the Jigawa Government says it has cleared a total of 37,000 metres of drains, culverts and other waterways in Dutse, the state capital.
Managing Director, Dutse Capital Development Authority (DCDA), Mr Sale Abubakar, told newsmen in Dutse on Sunday, July 31, that the exercise was carried out between July 25 and July 29.
Abubakar said that all the wastes generated from the exercise were evacuated and disposed, as part of the comprehensive waste and drain clearance operations, designed to enhance sanitation in the area.
He added that the agency also sensitised the people on the need to keep the environment clean and promote good sanitation habit.
Also speaking, Mr Najib Falalu-Gantsa, Special Assistant to Gov. Muhammad Badaru on Urban Renewal and Development, said that the exercise was part of government’s proactive measures to promote effective waste management and sanitation in the area.
Falalu-Gantsa said that the exercise was carried out in collaboration with the government, communities and self-help groups in the area.
The governor’s aide added that the gesture was also aimed at preventing flood, as all the waterways were filled up with sand and dirt.
According to him, the government, in collaboration with stakeholders, will continue to protect the environment through effective waste management.
Falalu-Gantsa advised people to take their wastes to the appropriate and designated disposal centres and desist from indiscriminate dumping of wastes in residential areas and waterways.
In Delta State, the Warri South Local Government on Saturday, July 30 reprimanded 75 persons for violating the monthly environmental sanitation exercise in the metropolis.
They were restricted and subjected to cleaning and clearing the premises of the council’s secretariat as punishment.
The council’s Supervisor for Environment, Mr Omawumi Elete, told the newsmen in Warri that the decision was in line with the strict enforcement of the restriction of movement order by the council while the exercise lasted.
Elete said that the exercise was meant to scale up the directive of the state government and the policy by the council’s Chairman, Dr Michael Tidi, toward achieving a cleaner environment in the metropolis.
Also, Mrs Stella Mode, Head of Department (HoD), Environment, Warri South, said that the exercise was successful, adding that the awareness yielded good results.
“People are beginning to imbibe the culture of cleanliness. Those caught flaunting the sanitation exercise were restricted and warned accordingly,” she said.
Meanwhile, Mr Justice Afor, Zonal Commander, Anti-Cult Volunteer Corps, has commended the council’s chairman for involving them in the monitoring of the sanitation exercise and pledged the corps continuous support.
It will be recalled that Tidi had vowed to punish any violator of the environmental laws.
He also warned that those caught disposing waste indiscriminately would be prosecuted according to the law.
By Aisha Ahmed, Chimezie Anaso, Muhammad Nasir Bashir and Edeki Igafe
