By Aloysius Umalo, Makurdi
The Benue State Government in North Central Nigeria is taking a tough stance against those who repeatedly break sanitation laws in the state in order to create a safer and cleaner environment for the people.
The General Manager of the Benue State Environmental Sanitation Agency (BENSESA), Jennifer Nashima Daniels, announced this decision at the Agency's headquarters in Makurdi, stating that there will be strict enforcement of sanitation laws to encourage the public to keep their environment clean on a regular basis.
"We will be cracking down on individuals who deliberately ignore sanitation laws in the state. We will utilize all necessary measures to ensure compliance," she emphasized.
Mrs. Nashima explained that the agency had faced challenges in the past due to non-functional trucks for service delivery.
She however expressed delight that with the support of Governor Hyacinth Alia, funds were released for the repair and refurbishment of the trucks, with five of them already operational.
The ultimate goal of the exercise is to promote cleanliness and safety in accordance with the Governor's vision for a cleaner environment in Benue State.
The Benue State Environmental Sanitation Agency has begun sensitization and inspection efforts and plans to extend the initiatives to all the 23 Local Government Areas in the state.
Additional measures include providing roll-on bins in high-traffic areas where trucks cannot access easily, as well as public mobile toilets to address open defecation and urination.
The General Manager noted that despite facing challenges such as lack of suitable office space, renovations are underway to improve the administrative block of the agency.
Mrs. Nashima expressed gratitude to Governor Alia for his support in revamping and equipping BENSESA for improved service delivery.
