Niger State Governor Alh. Abubakar Sani Bello has flagged-off the re-introduction of the monthly environmental sanitation in the state.
The flag-off exercise which took place in Kpakungu area of Minna the state capital, Saturday, 29 February, 2020 was witnessed by members of the Legislature, Executive Council members and Local Government Council Chairmen.
Speaking at the ceremony, Governor Sani Bello stated that the reintroduction of the monthly sanitation in the state is apt as it is coming at the time the country is faced with challenges of the outbreak of diseases.
“The resumption of the monthly sanitation is very timely. As a matter of fact, it has become a necessity and a must that we should resume for our own safety and benefit.”
The governor emphasised that a clean environment will reduce the risk and outbreak of diseases in the State and enjoined the people to take the exercise seriously, adding that Niger State has always been known for cleanliness.
“If our environment is clean it will reduce a lot of health challenges especially on the spread of a disease ravaging globe. It will cost us less to keep a clean environment”. He added.
He also called on those who engage in tree felling to desist from such act, emphasizing that it has started leading to environmental catastrophe as rivers no longer flow all through the season.
Earlier, the state Commissioner for Environment, Barr. Tanko Zakari said the aim of reintroducing the environmental sanitation in the State is to reduce pressure on the healthcare centres in the State as a lot of health challenges handled by the healthcare centres are attributed to dirty environment.
He then solicited the support of the people as well as that of the local government Council Chairmen to ensure that the desired objective is achieved.
Also speaking, the state Health Commissioner Dr. Muhammad Makusidi and his Water Resources counterpart, Alh. Yusuf Suleiman pledged their Ministries support to ensure a healthy environment and supply of potable water.
Speaking on behalf of the local government chairmen, the state ALGON Chairman, and Chairman of Chanchaga Local Government, Ibrahim Abubakar pledged to ensure that they contribute their quota to ensure that the desired goal is achieved and commended Governor Abubakar Sani Bello had for reintroducing the exercise.
He promised that they will see to the enforcement of the exercise.
The monthly environmental sanitation is to be observed every last Saturday of the month between 7 and 10 O’Clock in the morning.
