Alhaji Mohammed Isa, Director General, Nasarawa State Waste Management and Sanitation Authority (NASWAMSA) has called on residents to support the organization in a collective effort to make the state cleaner.
He stated this in an interview with newsmen in Karu local government area of the state on Tuesday.
According to Isa, his goal as the new boss of NASWAMSA is to make Nasarawa state the cleanest state in the country but that feat, according to him can only be achieved through a collective effort from all residents in adhering strictly to sanitation guidelines.
“We will put in place a very good policy on sanitation that will make Nasarawa state the number one or the cleanest state in the country.
“But the implementation of that policy will require a collective effort from all citizens in which everyone gives his or her maximum best to abide by the policy guidelines on how to keep their environment clean,” he said.
He said a lot of sensitization will be carried out across the state to enlighten residents on the importance of cleanliness, proper refuse dumping and most importantly how to ‘join hands’ with the organization in keeping their communities clean.
“Now it’s a new era with regards to sanitation in the state. So we want the people to know that it’s not only the sanitation workers saddled with the responsibility of cleaning the environment. It is everybody’s responsibility,” he added.
The NASWAMSA DG also pointed out the new policy on sanitation will also entails registration and sensitization of refuse collectors who usually go from house to house in communities in he grassroots to collect refuse for a fee.
“We intend to do a registration for all of them, give them identification cards and jackets and sensitize them on proper ways of collection and dumping of refuse. What they do helps us in places we cannot reach,” he said.
Isa appealed for support from the media to help amplify the importance of cleanliness to the public and the need for everyone to play their role by keeping their homes clean and joining hands with NASWAMSA officials in keeping their communities clean.
“I appeal to the media to help us tell the ordinary citizens of the state that this is a new era and everybody’s commitment and support. So we want everyone to keep their homes and business environments clean and to support us in keeping the whole community clean,” he said.
He then appreciated Governor Abdullahi Sule’s support to the organization and appealed to the governor to offer provisional employment offer to some of the staff of the organization who still work as casual staff.