No fewer than 17 sanitation offenders were caught and tried at a mobile court in Gombe State for contravening the state law on its monthly clean up exercise.
Our correspondent reports that the state held its monthly end of the month sanitation with Magistrate Maikudi Bamai, and others presiding over the court at Gombe Divisional Police Station.
The offenders comprise motorcycle riders popularly known as Mai Achaba, Keke Napep operators, fuel station and restaurant attendants.
Addressing journalists Commissioner for Water, Environment and Forest Resources Mohammed Fawu, said the offenders would be dealt with to serve as deterrent to others.
According to him, health is wealth and should not be abandoned for any reason, adding that the current administration is committed to prioritising the well-being of residents.
“Must of the complaints was that they were going to the farms that they are hungry. I’m not sure they have considered the importance of health; if they will go to the farm when they are ill? There is need to ensure the environment is tidy. We want to plead that the people give us the needed cooperation. It’s not about restricting movement but about ensuring cleaning and tidying of the environment is achieved,” Fawu said.
The Commissioner noted that the mobile court has been charged to adjudicate on sanitation issues and ensure justice, adding “it is active because all the arrest we have made have been taken to the various police stations in town. He (Magistrate) is prosecuting them, and they (offenders) will be charged. We will inform the general public how much we realised in terms of fines we got from the exercise. Nobody pays cash we have staff of internal revenue with us, once payment is made it goes to the state treasury. Next time we will not stop at arresting petroleum station operators even customers will be arrested.”
He lauded residents for the improved compliance to the exercise, saying that next sanitation brooms will be made available for offenders, “This month’s compliance level is better than last month. However, we still have challenges. Motorcycle riders are the main culprits when it comes to breaking the law. We have made announcements and we also engaged so many organisations and residents are aware. We will increase security personnel in some points to ensure security. We will ensure our tactics offenders will be given brooms to sweep. No movement includes trekking, brooms, cutlasses will be provided for offender next time to do what they should have done from home,” Fawu added.
PERISCOPE NIGERIA reports that various points including FCE, GSU, cross, Liji, Union Bank, rainbow roundabouts toured alongside assessment team led by Permanent Secretary Ministry of Water, Environment and Forest Resources Danladi Adamu, there were gridlocks of commuters waiting for 10am to commence their trips.
