Plateau Sanitation Exercise: PEPSA DG Dapiya, Goes Tough, Demolishes Makeshift Shops at Terminus Market

By Jatdul Jerry

The monthly Environmental Sanitation Exercise in Jos, is gaining momentum as the newly agile and active Director General of the Agency, Mr Samuel Dapiya is leaving no stone unturned to ensure Plateau is keep clean.

This month's sanitation exercise started with a supervision of demolition exercise at the Terminus city market where illegal traders had occupied the streets.

Our reporter who covered the sanitation exercise reports that due to commencement of operations of the newly aquired metro busses by Governor Caleb Mutfwang to cushion hardship of fuel subsidy remoral on transportation, the street traders where given a prior notice to move into the open space of the demolished Jos Ultra Modern Main Market, but some defied government's instructions, a situation that led to the demolition of the makeshift shops.

The joined task force on Sanitation led by the DG of PEPSA, Samuel Dapiya, accompanied by the General Manager, Jos Metropolitan Development Board (JMDB), Hart Bankat, security personnels, Journalists management and staff of PEPSA, proceeded to Bauchi road where youths turned out in their numbers to clean the streets and evaquate dirts blocking drainages.

Community leaders of Malam Katsina street, Alhaji Dauda Miko and that of Abba na Shehu street, Alhaji Ibrahim Narogo who received the team appreciated the DG and Gov. Mutfwang for being a true leader who cares about the welbeing of Plateau people and its environs.

They added that they mobilised the youths to come and clean the environment as earlier discussed when the PEPSA DG, paid them a courtesy visit.

Assessing this month's sanitation exercise, the DG PEPSA, Samuel Dapiya, said there's minimal compliance from Gangare Junction to Islamiya junction, down to Jos South, what we saw in Jos South was something else because these kinds of crowds shows that people are adamant to break the law.

He assured that there's going to be necessary adjustment and plans for the exercise to ensure that there's a water tight and a very comprehensive planning of total enforcement on subsequent sanitations.

On the controversy surrounding the  demolition of the makeshift shops at Terminus Market alleging that there was no notice given, the DG said; “enough notice was giving. There's even video footages to that effect even yesterday we were here to tell them to packed up their things we're coming to take off Those shantice they have and nobody cooperated until when they saw the bulldozer. There was enough announcement and also community engagement with their leaders fully engaed. I ensuerd that entire space was evacuated, I ensured that space was fumigated to ensure it is healthy for Plateau people" he said.