ENVIRONMENT: KADUNA STATE GOVT HAS A GOOD WASTE PACKAGE.... SHEHU B. GIWA

HON. SHEHU BALARABE GIWA

“People should change from the medieval ways of doing things to the more modern ways and methods. It is completely wrong for people to dump waste in culverts, drainages and water ways or worse still, in front of their houses”............ Shehu Balarabe Giwa Honourable Commissioner for Environment, Kaduna state.

With the rains peaking and raising palpable fears as regards the warning from NIMET that some states in the federation with perennial flooding experiences, the Kaduna state government has disclosed that it is not folding its arms as regards the warning.

Speaking with NAIJNEWSALERT in his office, the Honourable Commissioner for Environment, Shehu Balarabe Giwa stated that his Ministry is not relenting in its sensitization programmes to the general public on the issue of proper waste disposal.

Honourable Giwa stated that, “there is need for everybody to adopt self-hygienic attitude. It bothers on our individual attitudinal approach to maintaining proper hygiene. Government cannot come into our environment or homes to clean and evacuate our waste”.

He appealed on the need for all to learn how to clean our environment and move the waste to government approved sites for the collection of such garbage for onward transfer to government approved dump sites.

“We shall continue to sensitize the public on this aspect in order for government to achieve this goal. If the public can do their own bit, the responsibility of the government will be reduced in terms of proper and timely waste evacuation. It is not too much to ask”.

On the locations of the Transfer stations, Shehu Giwa disclosed that the State Government intends to build ten (10) Transfer stations in order to ease the collection of garbage from the residential areas and homes, to the approved sites. Of the ten (10), “six (6) of these sites will be in Kaduna metropolis, Three (3) in Zaria and one (1) in Kafanchan. This will assist immensely, in regards to the collection of garbages from homes to the approved sites”.

On the part of government, “we will not relent in our sensitization programmes as dumping of refuse in drainages, waterways and water channels will not help the state or the people in any form. These are some of the causes of flooding across the country”, he stated.

The Environment Commissioner however, pleaded with the general public to take their refuse and garbage to the Transfer stations so that those saddled with the responsibility of evacuating the waste; from our Ministry, will evacuate the waste from the Transfer station to our approved dump sites in time.

“People should change from the medieval ways of doing things to the more modern ways and methods. It is completely wrong for people to dump waste in culverts, drainages and water ways or worse still, in front of their houses”.

The Kaduna state government has built a place specifically for that purpose and people should endeavour to take their garbage there. The public should have an attitudinal change from their old ways of doing things.

On the evacuation of refuse in the state, Hon. Giwa stated that it is on a daily basis and that is one of our top priorities; Keep Kaduna state Clean. On environment sanitation days, people are expected to clean their surroundings as a healthy environment is next to godliness. Remember, we are in a change era; this government is a change mantra.

On the issue of the predictions by NIMET that several states will experience flooding, for which Kaduna state was listed among the states likely to become flooded, it is imperative that we continue to sensitize our people on the need to do the right thing.

“There is the need for people to stop building on waterways and channels and again, proper waste management is key. It is also important to mention here that the Kaduna Public Works Agency, KAPWA has begun the reconstruction of culverts and drainages in order to ease the water flow”.

“Let us all cooperate with the government as the state government has a very good package for the people of Kaduna state in terms of the waste management for the package to manifest”, Shehu Giwa appealed.

Talking on the intents of the state government to reposition the state, Honourable Giwa stated that “Kaduna state is leading presently in the country as one will not only feel but see that Kaduna state has been changed from, where he met the state, to where we are today”.

“There are abundant evidences of the governor’s efforts and good works all over the state; health, environment, roads sectors are getting the desired facelifts”, he said.