Newly Appointed PEPSA DG Resuscitates Monthly Environmental and Sanitation Exercise in Jos

The newly appointed Director General of Plateau Environmental Protection and Sanitation Agency (PEPSA) Samuel Dapiya, has charged the people in the State to consider the monthly Environmental Sanitation exercise as their collective responsibility, saying, " it takes Plateau people to keep Plateau clean"

Dapiya gave the charge Saturday in Jos while supervising the exercise.

The DG observed that some areas visited, Gangare, Angwan Doya, Dilimi, down to Bauchi ring road witnessed good turn out while Farin Gada are are areas of great concern because traders were seen going about their normal transactions.

The team made up of the Head of Service, Barr. Rauta Dakok, the GM of JMDB, Arch Hart Bankat, the Transition Implementation Committee Chairman of Jos North, Hon. Samuel Umaru Dala, the permanent Secretary Ministry of Finance, Mrs Damwesh, Journalists, security personrlss, Magistrates amongst others toured some areas in Jos North.

Two filling stations where sealed up for defaulting the sanitation exercise while other defaulters were prosecuted and made to pay fines by the mobile courts.

Dapiya stated that his agency will correct the wrongs by intensifying on massive door to door advocacy campaign to traditional rulers, youth leaders, NURT and other associations to ensure a 100% compliance in the next exercise.

While lamenting on shortage of manpower, he revealed that the Agency is currently working with only 10 Magistrates spread across Jos North and South metropolis for the exercise.

The GM of JMDB, Arch Hart Bankat while answering questions from Journalists on the environmental pollution caused by refuse dump at Gandan Bako, Dilimi, stated that "just like His Excellency Governor Caleb Mutfwang would always say, Government is all about collaboration and not competion" stressing that when when they synergies with sister agencies it becomes easier to identify problems that needs to solved.

According to Bankat, " I can assure you that whatever we have seen that is going to trouble and problem to our people, we will definitely take care of it".

On his part, the Transition Committee Chairman of Jos North Local Government Council Hon. Samuel Umaru Dala appreciates Governor Caleb Mutfwang for declaring a state of emergency on sanition in the State, particularly Jos North and South, he equally comended the newly appointed GM of PEPSA for hitting the ground running by making sure the monthly environmental sanitation exercise is observed.

Dala adds that based on observation today there are areas where compliance is low and there are areas the compliance was impressive saying as a local government they are going to ensure the success and total compliance of subsequent sanitation exercises.

The Chief Magistrate, Debra Abok Nyam revealed that a lot of offenders were prosecuted , convicted and fines were paid.

She said those who could not pay fines were made to do community service such as sweeping the streets adding that it is a way of letting people know that keeping their environment clean is everybody's business.

Highlight of the exercise was the symbolic evaluation of refuse by the GM of PEPSS at a dump site beside the Civil Service Club, Hilstation junction, Jos.