by Christiana Gokyo, Jos
The Plateau State Environmental Protection and Sanitation Agency (PEPSA), at the weekend, flagged-off environmental sanitation, in collaboration with the Peace Riders of Nigeria Bikers from across the 36 states, which arrived Friday, to participate in the initiative.
Speaking to journalist shortly after the flagging-off of the event in Bukuru, Jos South Local Government Area of the state, Director-General of the Agency, Samuel Dapiya, said, beyond sanitation, they have lined-up several engagements in Jos, including visits to motor parks in partnership with the NURTW, and outreach programmes such as a presentation at the School for the Deaf.
“This project is symbolic. It shows that individuals and groups from different parts of the country are willing to support what we are doing in PEPSA, especially in promoting peace and environmental sustainability.
“If Plateau were not peaceful, we would not see people travelling long distances to be part of activities like this,” he noted, adding that, “This flag-off is a clear indication that Plateau remains the Home of Peace and Tourism.”
While acknowledging that the state has experienced some tensions last month, he noted that, “but we are grateful that peace is steadily returning. You can see people coming out to participate in initiatives like this again, which is encouraging,” he said
He also appreciated the Governor of Plateau State for his consistent support and proactive leadership, adding that, “The level of support we receive now, including international collaboration, has significantly improved our operations at PEPSA. We are deeply grateful, and we remain committed to doing more.
“Our work does not end here. We will continue sanitation efforts in other communities. For instance, we recently carried out community sanitation in Angwan Rukuba, and we are also collaborating with sister NGOs like EBOMI, which conducts regular sanitation exercises. We will continue to support and strengthen these partnerships.
“As the rainy season sets in, our message to Plateau residents is simple: it takes Plateau people to keep Plateau clean. If you own a shop, a business, or a house, and there is a gutter or waterway nearby, do not wait for the government to act,” he urged.
The Director-General called on the people to take responsibility by clearing and desilting it, adding that, “When you do that, we can come in to evacuate the waste.”
Our Correspondent reports that there was much compliance across several communities in Jos North and South Local Government Areas.
And, as a beef-up to this exercise, PEPSA has introduced a house-to-house inspection of toilets, bathrooms, soak-aways, and general home hygiene.