PEPSA, NESREA Embark On House-To-House Sanitation Hygiene Awareness In Jos-Bukuru Metropolis
By Agada Daniel, Jos
Plateau Environmental Protection and Sanitation Agency (PEPSA) in collaboration with the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), has embarked on house to house massive sanitation and hygiene awareness drive within Jos and Bukuru metropolis.
Director General of PEPSA Samuel Dapiya, confirmed the agency have deliberately decided to change or shift the approach of its sanitation drive paying close attention to households as they are interested in the quality well-being of the people.
“We’ve seen needs, we’ve seen hazards within those communities, and we’re glad that we’re changing our general approach to sanitation in the month of May”, Dapiya stated.
PEPSA DG who led sanitation taskforce enforcement team within Jos and Bukuru metropolis on Saturday while speaking to newsmen after the exercise said they haven gone on courtesy calls to both Jos North and Jos South.
“The chairmen have come out once in a while to join us and, for us, it is our job that we’re doing. It is our responsibility to ensure that whether they come out or not, we will continue to do our job and ensure that Plateau is kept clean and safe.
“Sanitation has been done in Barkin Ladi, it has been done in Bokkos, it has been done in Mangu, and Lantang North used to be part of our sanitation exercise. So, for us, it is about drawing in every major stakeholder, beyond even the council chairmen, to achieve community sanitation”, he noted.
In regard to a particular household in Tudun Wada housing about 50 tenants where the toilets facility completely dilapidated and tantamount to hazardous, Dapiya assured that the agency will be visiting that household on Monday as a follow-up as they take actions and decisions going forward.
He acknowledged that since coming onboard in 2023 the agency consistently intensify desilting before the rainy season to avoid flooding, and also do it again post-rainy season.
According to him,currently, “I think the workforce is around Bukuru, addressing waterways around TCNN. We’ve done a lot within the city centre. We’ve done that in Gangare around PEPSA, down to JUTH. We’ve done around Rayfield, Air Force Base, down to Gold and Base. We’ve done a lot around there and some other communities in Tudun Wada”, Dapiya concluded.
Acting zonal Director National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA) North Central, Jude Apphia said they have no other choice than to work together to save the environment.
“Environmental issues don’t have barriers. If it comes, it doesn’t select the DG, it doesn’t select the nursery, it doesn’t select the media. It just comes, and it comes to everybody.
“So, we have no other choice than to work together as a team, and that’s why this partnership is going on. It’s not just at PEPSA.
“Awareness is very key.
So, we hope and pray that Plateau people will continue to embrace this sanitation. In those days, Plateau was first, second when it came to sanitation, but we’ve lost it. But then, a new approach will bring us back on line”, Apphia mentioned.
