By: Joy Odor/Kaduna
Kaduna State Commissioner for Environment, Hajiya Amina Dyeris Sijuwade (ESQ) has described the continuous dumping of refuse in the gutters by the resident of the state as un-sighting and unhealthy.
According to her, this attitude contribute to the health hazard and outbreak of various diseases in the communities and warned those in the habit of doing so to desist from such act but rather appreciate government effort in ensuring that natural and man-made disasters are reduced or even averted.
She gave the warning in an interview with newsmen shortly after her closing remark at a 2-day Stakeholders Meeting on Improved Early Warning (EW) and Early Response (ER) to Strengthen Disaster Preparedness specifically on flooding, organized by Christian Aid Nigeria in Kaduna North-West, Nigeria.
According to her, this is the reason why the State Government cancelled monthly sanitation, lamenting that the resident has became use to identifying a particular Day in a month to come out for cleaning that involves everybody but forgotten everyday is cleaning.
“Monthly sanitation in Kaduna remains canceled because everyday should be a compulsory sanitation for all residents in the state.
“So the ideal of reinventing to the old order is to let people know that their responsibility is not ceremonial but everyday responsibility.
“We believe that this has largely helped in averting flood incidents in Kaduna in the last 2 years despite the heavy rain fall experiences.
“The state challenges is that the drainages is not completed and there is so many we need to cover but the intention is to continue this project in the 2nd half of the year.
“In addition, we periodically conduct sensitization in conjunction with environment Protection Agency to communities on proper waste disposal because that is big contributor to flood in the cities.
“This is one effort we are embarking to ensure that when we get into the rain proper, we should hopefully be able to avert flooding among other safety measures.
“The continuous dumping of refuse in the gutters by the resident is un-sighting and unhealthy which contribute to health hazard and outbreak of various diseases in the communities.
“I will warn those in the habit of doing so to desist from such act but rather appreciate government effort in ensuring the state get rid-off natural and man-made disasters ” she stressed.
Speaking on the Christian Aid project aimed at strengthening disaster preparedness in Nigeria with a focus on flooding by improving Early Warning (EW) and Early Response (ER) systems in Benue, Kaduna and Plateau States, the Commissioner expressed satisfactory of the Organization’s effort in including Kaduna as one of the pilot project.
Hajiya Amina Dyeris Sijuwade however assured the Christian Aid Nigeria of the States government’s support and commitment in achieving its objective in ending flood disasters.
