Taraba Waste Management: Jalingo Hazardous Refuse Dumping Worries Commissioner

      

The Commissioner of Waste Management and Resource Innovation, Hon. Shonzen James Bernard,  has expressed worries over the hazardous dumping of refuse in Jalingo and has, therefore, called on residents of the State capital and the entire State to support Governor Agbu Kefas' vision of making Taraba a clean State.

The Commissioner made the statement when he and his collaborators, including the Permanent Secretary who doubles as coordinator of the "Keep Taraba Clean" initiative, Hon. Iliya Kefas, visited some reguse dumping sites in the Jalingo metropol.

Addressing newsmen after the exercise, the Commissioner said

the purpose of the city-wide supervision exercise was to identify areas where waste had been wrongly and improperly discarded. Such places included Mayo-Dassa, Road Block, Magami, Anguwan Sarki, and Mile-Six.

At the end of the exercise, the Ministry found that people dumped refuse carelessly and thus decided to engage in discussions to chart a way forward. One of the primary objectives, according to the Commissioner,  was to find an  efficient way of evacuating waste to a designated permanent dumping site located outside the heart of Jalingo. Such a strategic move would alleviate the burden of waste within the city. The team also considered other innovative ways to transform waste into valuable resources.

In addition to a practical sanitation exercise conducted during the tour, the team also raised awareness about the importance of environmental cleanliness. The sensitization served as a reminder about the far-reaching benefits of a healthy environment, such as improved public health, enhanced quality of life, and conservation of natural resources.

The Ministry expressed its gratitude to Jalingo residents for their active participation and support towards the initiative. *Together, we can build a cleaner, healthier, and more sustainable future for all," said the Commissioner.

He and his collaborators were accompanied on the tour of the city by staff of Taraba Sanitation Agency, who participated in assessing and visiting major refuse dumping sites. 

*The tour and assessment was necessary for us in order to help us in determining the next line of action in achieving a cleaner Taraba in the area of effective waste collection, disposal and recycling. 

I also held a press briefing where I remphasized our determination to ensure that Taraba state is kept clean at all times in line with the visions of Governor Agbu Kefas and also our plans to convert waste to wealth. 

I am calling on Tarabans to support and cooperate with the government in achieving this great vision by imbibing proper waste disposal habits and using only government approved and demarcated dumpsites"