The Nasarawa State Government has launched thirty-six mobile courts in the thirteen Local Government Areas to prosecute culprits violating environmental sanitation laws across the state.
Mr. Garba Mohammed, the Permanent Secretary of Nasarawa State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, made this announcement while briefing journalists in Lafia after the July sanitation exercise.
Furthermore, the last Saturday of every month has been set aside for environmental sanitation in the state.
Represented by Chief Environment Officer, Mr. Abubakar Mohammed, who is also the Chief Prosecutor of the ministry, he stated that the courts were established in each of the 13 LGAs and 18 Development Areas to ensure proper enforcement of the exercise.
Moreover, Lafia and Karu LGAs have three mobile courts each, strategically located for administrative convenience.
Regarding compliance, the Permanent Secretary expressed satisfaction and applauded the traditional rulers, Chairmen of Area Councils, as well as the security agencies for the success of the exercise.
He mentioned that about 90 percent of the residents complied by locking up their shops and businesses to clean the surrounding areas during the exercise.
The state was effectively shut down during the exercise in accordance with the law, except for those on essential services.
Mr. Mohammed emphasized that only those with permission from relevant authorities and those on essential services were allowed to pass and move around during the exercise.
Meanwhile, forty-two persons suspected of violating environmental sanitation laws in Lafia LGA were arrested and prosecuted by various mobile courts.