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Waste Disposal: Five States Take Measures To Keep Environment Clean

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5 years ago

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State governments in the North-Central zone and part of North – East are taking measures to ensure proper waste disposal, this is according to The Tide source survey.
The states are, Plateau, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa and Taraba.
In Plateau, the Commissioner for Environment, Mr Yakubu Idi, said new strategies for waste management were based on the experience his ministry and its agencies had garnered over time.
“We used to have problem of dino bins, some of them were already worn out, and we have put in two strategies, one of which is community engagement.
“We keep the skeletons of the worn out dino bins and give out to communities to refurbish and keep in their environment and take ownership.
“The second strategy is that we are intensifying our efforts to see that the contract of the 40 dino bins which was awarded in 2020 is completed.
“As it is today, we have 18 in place and we are waiting for the balance of 22 and the contractor has given us six months within which he will complete work. When that is done, we will place them in strategic places including Terminus area, Jos.
“We have done it in such a way that the Plateau Environmental Protection and Sanitation Agency (PEPSA) would concentrate on collection and evacuation of public waste.
“Private waste operators would be engaged to take care of waste from private residence and corporate organisations,” Idi explained.
He said that the ministry faced a major challenge of lack of trucks in 2020, but had recently refurbished seven trucks and would refurbish more to make the number 12, in a few months.
Idi also disclosed that the state’s monthly environmental sanitation had been put on hold, but efforts were on to resuscitate the exercise.
“We have environmental laws in place, what we need to do more in 2021 is enforcement. The authorities saddled with the responsibility of enforcement are developing strategies, as the level of compliance is abysmally low.
“We have the intention of reviewing the laws to meet current realities but at the moment, we will use the old ones.
“According to the laws, shop owners are supposed to have polythene bags or bins where they can dump their refuse. Those who fail to do so are to pay a fine of N5,000,” he said.
On his part, the General Manager of PEPSA, Mr Gabriel Bako, said the major problem the agency was facing was failure by some people to deposit their waste at the collection points.
Bako said that such people were dumping refuse in the centre of the road in such a place as Terminus Market.
He said though, the agency had advised the people to place dino bin in their shops, many of them had refused to comply.
Bako said that some street sweepers in the state were punished for not properly placing refuse at the collection points.
According to him, some were sacked, while those who were ready to comply with the directive were engaged.
State Director, National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Mr Larry Ineke, said operators in solid minerals were not complying with environmental laws as related to waste management.
Ineke called for a closer collaboration between the Plateau Government and NESREA in the areas of waste management and other environmental issues.
Meanwhile, the Benue Government says it spends N40 million monthly on improved sanitation in the state.
The Commissioner for Water Resources and Environment, Dondo Ahire, who disclosed this, also said efforts were underway to review the state’s sanitation laws.

Ahire said that his ministry was spending about N10 million monthly on payment of street sweepers, grass cutters, heavy duty machine workers and maintenance.
He also said that over N20 million was spent every month by the Benue State Environmental Sanitation Authority (BENSESA) on environmental cleanup of the state.
Ahire disclosed that the government had commenced the process of reviewing its sanitation laws to make it more punitive so as to deter people from abusing the environment.
Similarly, Mr Solomon Onah, General Manager, Benue State Environmental Sanitation Authority (BENSESA), said the agency had arrested over 500 persons in the last 12 months for various sanitation offences.
As for Kogi State Commissioner for Environment, Mr Victor Omofaiye, he said the government had adopted some measures to ensure proper waste disposal and management in the state.
Omofaiye said the government had engaged the services of private waste service providers to ensure proper waste collection in major streets, offices, and recreational centres.
He said government had also empowered and funded the Kogi State Sanitation and Waste Management Board (KGSSWMB) to aggressively tackle waste storage, collection, transportation and disposal.
Speaking on the challenges facing government and private operators in waste disposal and management, Omofaiye noted that these included the high cost of maintaining waste disposal vehicles.
He said that the cost of maintaining personnel was also high, adding that the problem of poor urban planning made it difficult for officials to easily access some dump sites.
Omofaiye stated that indiscriminate dumping of waste by residents was a great challenge as well.
The commissioner said that residential areas, markets, offices, parks and gardens were actually sources of waste generation which essentially lacked waste storage, collection and disposal facilities.
He said the sources also lacked vegetation control, adequate and proper drainage facilities, and sanitary facilities like water, toilets, and kitchen in some cases.
On rules and regulations put in place to ensure proper waste management and environmental sanitation, Omofaiye said there was an enabling law established on April 6, 2013 that required every household to have a dustbin.
He said the state had monthly environmental sanitation day, adding that the exercise was put in place to mobilise people to clean the environment and dispose their refuse.
In Nasarawa State, the Commissioner for Environment, Mr Musa Abubakar Government says government has put in place measures to ensure proper waste management by providing areas for collection.
“The collection centres are residential areas. Some of the final dumping centres are at B.A.D., another one is in Anwa Rere where a Federal Government recycling project is ongoing. These are the major dumping centres,” Abubakar said.
He appealed to the Federal Government to assist the state with waste management equipment to effectively evacuate waste.
In Taraba, the Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation, Alhaji Ibrahim Lawal, said the government was making concerted efforts to enhance proper waste disposal.
According to Lawal, the staff of the ministry and those of the state Ministry of Urban Development regularly conducted joint operation to ensure clean environment in the city centres.
He said the ministry would intensify efforts at sensitising the public against indiscriminate waste disposal, educate them on the health implications of such actions and the need for them to participate in keeping their environment clean.
Stakeholders in sanitation and hygiene sectors in the state have called on the government to pay more attention to issues of waste disposal to enhance health of the people.
One of them, Mr Boniface Kosson, Chief Executive Officer of Youths Progressive Association in Taraba, said his organisation which was supported by USAID was working on issues of proper waste disposal in Jalingo and Zing local government areas.
Kosson noted that a lot needed to be done to change the mentality of residents about proper waste disposal for enhanced sanitation and hygienic condition of the state.
“People must be adequately sensitised on the dangers of dumping waste indiscriminately and conscious efforts must be made by the state government to provide necessary facilities at designated areas to achieve this,” he said.
Mr James Matsondi, a private waste manager, said aggressive enlightenment campaigns on waste disposal and its implications on the health of the people were needed to change people’s attitude.
Mrs Helen Douglas, a street cleaner, said government should provide necessary containers at designated areas to enable residents dump refuse in them for easy management.

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Environment

AEPB Decried Low Performance Of Waste Evacuator In Abuja

Published

6 days ago

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March 23, 2026

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The Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) has decried the low performance of the waste evacuation and cleaning contractors, engaged by the Federal Capital Territory Administration to keep Abuja clean.
The Director, Mrs Kate Ogbonna gave the assessment during an interactive session with the contractors in Abuja on Friday.
Ogbonna said she was overwhelmed with unsavoury reports from the supervisors who monitor the daily performance of the cleaning and waste contractors.
“The reports at my disposal from our supervisors, who monitor the performance of the contractors are not too good.”
She called on the contractors to brace up and ensure proper and efficient waste evacuation across the Federal Capital City.
She said that the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, has been keeping his promise of paying the contractors on time, stressing that they, therefore, have no excuse not to deliver on the terms of agreement.
She acknowledged that there could be challenges, which were normal with every job, and advised the contractors to procure more equipment and engage more hands where necessary, to make their job easy and seamless.
The director reminded the contractors that they signed the contracts on grounds that they were capable, and assured them that the Board would assist where necessary.
Ogbonna explained that the meeting was to educate and guide the contractors on the full weight of their duties as waste managers and evacuators.
“We want them to know that there are standards and what we expect from them. We have set rules and agreements guiding their schedules.
“All we want is for the Federal Capital City to be clean,” she said.
She appealed to residents and institutions doing businesses in the capital city to pay their waste and cleaning bills and procure the right size of waste bins commensurate with their residences and business offices.
She noted that waste removal and management was capital intensive, adding that residents need to do their part while the Board do its part.
“You cannot be owing and expect clinical waste removed.
“You cannot also have a bin meant for one household for a block of 10 flats and expect it to hold the waste you generate until the contractor’s trucks come around. It will definitely overflow and mess up the environment.
“To ensure Abuja capital city remains clean, devoid of pollution and epidemic free, all must do their part,” she said.
In his remarks, Mr Benjamin Enwerem, Director, Solid Waste Management, AEPB, said that some of the contractors have complained that most of the waste on the streets was being generated by night traders and funfare operators.
“These traders and funfare operators generate waste and litter the whole area, thereby, forming illegal waste dumps around residential and business areas.
“We have taken notice of this complaint and we will send our task force after them,” Enwerem said.
On the performances of the contractors, Enwerem said that although there were still lapses, the contractors were doing better by the day, noting that additional capable hands have been injected into the cleaning force.
On his part, Chairman, Association of Solid Waste Contractors, Mallam Ibrahim Babayo, acknowledged the unsatisfactory performance of the contractors and promised that they would improve.
Babayo also promised that the contractors would procure modern equipment and employ more hands to improve on routine evacuation of waste.
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Environment

Buildings Destroyed, 40 Injured In Lagos and C’Rivers 

Published

6 days ago

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March 23, 2026

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No fewer than 40 people sustained injuries, while one person was confirmed dead, in separate tanker-related explosions in Lagos and Cross River states.
In Lagos, the incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday along the Lekki–Epe Expressway, around Ologuro Bus Stop, opposite a filling station in the Sangotedo area.
According to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, a tipper truck rammed into a gas tanker from behind, sparking a massive fire outbreak.
The Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, in a statement, said one person died in the incident, while two others sustained injuries.
“Upon arrival at the scene, it was discovered that a tipper truck rammed into a gas tanker, resulting in a fire outbreak. The driver of the tipper truck died as a result of the impact, while two adult females sustained minor injuries,” he said.
Oke-Osanyintolu attributed the crash to overspeeding and reckless driving, adding that the fire engulfed several roadside shops, causing extensive damage.
Tide source gathered that emergency responders, including the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and ambulance officials, were able to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to nearby buildings.
Similarly, the Federal Road Safety Corps, in a statement by the Sector Public Education Officer, Elizabeth Jayeola, confirmed the incident, saying the crash involved a Sinotruck tipper and a Mack trailer.
“A total of four male adults were involved. One person died, one was injured, while two were unhurt. The crash was caused by speed violation, which led to loss of control and collision,” she said.
Jayeola added that the impact triggered a fire that left the tipper driver burnt beyond recognition, while his assistant sustained injuries.
According to her, three warehouses and about 10 roadside shops, including a gym and a generator house, were affected before firefighters brought the situation under control.
Several vehicles, including buses and cars parked within the affected area, were also damaged.
In a separate incident in Calabar, Cross River State, no fewer than 38 persons sustained varying degrees of burns following a gas explosion at a filling station.
The explosion reportedly occurred during the transfer of gas from a storage tank to a service tank when a hose detached, causing gas to leak into the surrounding area.
An eyewitness in a video, Ekanem Essien, described the moment as chaotic, likening the explosion to a bomb blast.
“The only thing we heard was a loud explosion. Everywhere was in confusion. I had to rush my baby out and grab my documents. We could not even reach the fire service in time,” he said.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Sunday Eitokpah, in a statement, said the leakage quickly escalated into a fire, leaving residents with little time to escape.
“Several residents sustained injuries, primarily burns, and those with serious cases have been taken to the Teaching Hospital for treatment,” he said.
Despite the scale of destruction in Calabar, the PPRO confirmed that no death was recorded, while victims were receiving treatment at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital.
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Environment

Why Buildings Keep Collapsing In Nigeria…. NIOB

Published

2 weeks ago

on

March 16, 2026

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The Nigerian Institute of Building (NIOB) has attributed the recurring building collapse cases across the country to weak construction laws and failure to hold offenders accountable.
President of the institute, Daniel Kolade, made this known in Abuja at the 2026 Builders Day celebration, themed, “Advocacy and Policy Influence: Towards Sustainable Reforms for a Resilient Built Environment”
He expressed worry that, in spite of concerns over building safety, a key regulatory framework meant to strengthen enforcement within the built environment has remained pending before the National Assembly since 2006.
According to him, the delay has created a situation where those responsible for structural failures often escape punishment.
“Because the enforcement arm of the law is still lying with the National Assembly and has not been passed into law since 2006, the room remains for people to go scot-free when these incidents happen,” Kolade said.
According to Kolade, the lack of consequences encourages negligence on construction sites, as many operators believe little or nothing will happen, even if they violate building regulations.
Kolade cited previous building collapse incidents where, years after the tragedies, no individual had been prosecuted or sanctioned.
“As long as people continue to go free when these things happen, you should expect that it may not stop,” he said.
The NIOB president also said that the growing number of unqualified individuals working on construction sites worsened the problem.
He said it has become common for people without the required training or professional certification to assume technical roles in building projects.
“On most construction sites today, everybody claims to be an engineer, even labourers.
“Without the requisite knowledge and understanding, people just assume roles they are not qualified for,” he said.
Kolade noted that professional builders are regulated by the Council of Registered Builders of Nigeria (CORBON), which has the authority to register practitioners and discipline erring members.
He explained that builders found guilty of professional misconduct should face sanctions, including the withdrawal of their practicing licences.
However, he said the absence of a strong enforcement mechanism outside professional bodies makes it difficult to prosecute developers or project promoters who violate construction standards.
“In Nigeria, only one major case in Lagos saw the building promoter go down with the incident.
“In many other cases across the country, those responsible have walked free,” he said.
Kolade stressed that the built environment consists of several specialised professionals, each with defined responsibilities, including builders, architects and engineers.
He said the NIOB remained committed to promoting professionalism, ethical standards and quality assurance within the building industry.
March 13 is observed annually as Builders’ Day to create public awareness about the roles of professional builders and the importance of engaging qualified professionals in construction projects.
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