The Kaduna Capital Territory Authority (KCTA) has commenced the distribution of waste bins as part of efforts to make Kaduna the cleanest city in Nigeria.
Mr Hafis Bayero, the Administrator of KCTA, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday in Kaduna that the authority has also commenced massive clearance of refuse dumps.
He said that the distribution of the waste bins will target areas where residents dump their wastes in unapproved places.
Bayero said that indiscriminate dumping of refuse remains a problem in the city, and that the authority is trying to find solutions to the menace.
He listed areas targeted for the massive clean up to include Tudun Ilu, Rigasa, LEA Badarawa, and parts of Unguwan Gimbiya and Sabo.
The KCTA administrator said the Tudun Ilu dumpsite was cleaned up a week ago, but had returned to its old state, as residents continue to dump refuse there.
“We will continue to shut all illegal dump sites in Kaduna like that of Kaduna south, LEA Badarawa, Rigasa and part of Unguwan Gimbiya and Sabo where we have most of the illegal dump sites.
“We have tried as much as possible in the last three months to clean them up completely and reclaim the places, because they are not designated dump sites.
“We have already consulted the communities on the need to stop dumping refuse in those places.
“We are providing waste bins in various sites and we will work with them to ensure that they are dumping their wastes in a responsible manner,” Bayero said.
He warned that punitive measures, including arrest and prosecution of defaulters, will be taken by the KCTA.
“We will trace the waste to where it’s produced, we will close the source,” he added.
According to him, the authority will soon unveil private waste evacuators who will be collecting the waste from people’s houses for proper disposal.
He also said that environmental health officers, working with the environmental protection agency and the ministry of environment, will be on ground to enforce existing regulations.
“Kaduna state has very robust regulations on this aspect but we have not been enforcing it.
“We will now start enforcing the law vigorously and ensure that we clean up our environment. It is in the front burner for the Kaduna city and we are determined to enforce it.”
Bayero said that the overall aim is to enhance public health by containing the spread of diseases caused by unclean environment such as malaria and cholera.