Jewel Environmental Initiative (JEI), a Gombe-based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has urged residents of the state to ensure proper waste management to mitigate the impact of flooding this year.
The Chief Executive Officer of the NGO, Mr Ismail Bima, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gombe on Wednesday.
He also urged residents to take responsibility in ensuring clean environment for their wellbeing.
Bima said the habit of some residents dumping waste indiscriminately along gullies and unauthorised sites should be jettisoned, as the state government had provided modern collection points in communities.
He added that the call became necessary because many residents were in the habit of dumping solid waste in the drains, especially during the rainy season.
He explained that with the state government constructing more roads and good drainage system, many residents may take to dumping their wastes in gullies for water to push them away.
He, therefore, cautioned that “such habit is not acceptable, stop pouring wastes in gullies as it will result to serious environmental consequences.
“It has been long since government constructed wastes collection points but today, the state government has built modern collection points which is commendable.
“Residents must use these points in dumping their wastes for proper evacuation so that we do not find such wastes blocking drainage systems which could result to flooding.”
Bima said due to lack of knowledge, many residents don’t see the newly constructed waste collection points as a good development for the environment.
“This is why stakeholders must embark on massive sensitisation to Churches, Mosques, markets and motor parks on how residents should use those points.”
He advised community leaders to open up the drains and bring down structures built on waterways to allow free flow of water before the commencement of the rainy season.
He commended the state government for introducing monthly environmental sanitation, which would be held every last Saturday of the month, describing it as “a good development that would ensure cleaner Gombe State.”
(NAN)