Nasarawa state government has approved the evacuation of heavy traditional refuse dumps located in five local government areas of the state.
The dumps, some of which have been abandoned for over 40 years covering a large chunk of residential areas, are located in Keffi, Akwanga, Nasarawa, Doma and Lafia local government areas (LGAs).
Mr Abubakar Madaki, Director General, Nasarawa State Waste Management and Sanitation Authority (NASWAMA), disclosed this in an interview with our correspondent in Karu local government area of the state on Wednesday.
Madaki, who spoke through the NASWAMA Secretary, Mr Christopher Abari, said the special evacuation exercise followed a special request with special attention.
“Aside other routine sanitation and waste management activities that the authority is carrying out, this is a special request with special attention.”
He explained that at the assumption of duties in 2021 after the law establishing the NASWAMA was signed by the government, the authority undertook a tour of the entire local government areas in the state to assess their sanitary situation.
“In the assessment, we observe that many local governments have heavy traditional refuse dumps and they are within residential areas.
’’And if they are not evacuated, it will cause harm to the public; so a memo was drafted for this exercise and the governor approved it,” he explained.
He said that the evacuation has already commenced on Monday in Nasarawa local government area, adding that the exercise in the area will last for about three days.
Madaki said the exercise ‘’includes evacuation of a refuse dump at Angwa Makama in the area that has been abandoned for over 40 years covering a large chunk of residential areas.
“If we are done with Nasarawa local government area, we will go to other areas like Keffi, Akwanga, Lafia and Doma.
‘’When we are done with these five local government areas, we will continue with other local government areas in the state.
“But these five are the local government areas that have prominent traditional refuse dumps hence their priority and the need to clear them so the health of the people can be safeguarded,” he said.
According to him, staff of the authority in the area offices in the designated local government areas will participate in the exercise with machines such as excavators among others to be used for the exercise.
“The reception so far has been warm and fantastic; even before we started this exercise, we received a series of complaints and requests from residents.
‘’So when we started the exercise, they were appreciative and even supported us in coordinating the activity,” he said.
Madaki commended Gov. Abdullahi Sule for approving the evacuation of refuse dump and his support to the agency.
He urged relevant agencies to support them in their quest to creating hygienic environment across the state.
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