The enforcement teams from the Nasarawa State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources on Saturday arrested 94 persons for allegedly violating environmental sanitation laws across the 13 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.
Mr Yakubu Kwanta, Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources made the disclosure at a press briefing on Saturday at Lafia, the state capital after the November sanitation exercise.
The Commissioner represented by Mr Abubakar Mohammed, Chief Environment Officer, explained that 28 persons were arrested in Lafia, 29 in Karu, 11 in Nassarawa-Eggon, five in Awe, and 11 in Keana LGAs respectively.
The last Saturday of every month was set aside for sanitation exercise in the state.
The commissioner said the offenders who were arrested for transacting their private businesses while the sanitation exercise was in progress, violated section 9 (2) of the State Environmental Sanitation Law.
He explained that the offenders were prosecuted by Mobile Courts in the respective local council to serve as a deterrent to others.
Kwanta expressed satisfaction with the level of compliance by the residents of the state adding that, shops and business environments were temporary closed during the period of the exercise.
“We only allowed those with permission from relevant authorities and those on essential services to pass, and move around during the exercise,” he added.
The commissioner further said that the ministry was going to collaborate more with traditional rulers and Chairmen of LGAs to strengthen enforcement in subsequent exercise.
Kwanta called on members of the public to always keep their environment clean to guard against outbreaks of diseases.
“Residents should cooperate more with the government towards ensuring that the slate is clean in their best interest.
“If the environment is kept clean, it will guard against a possible outbreak of any disease, thereby ensuring improved healthy living of the people,” he added. (NAN).