Mrs Amina Sijuwade, Kaduna State Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, says the ministry is expanding network of refuse collection points across major towns to prevent emergence of communal dumps.

Sijuwade made this known on Wednesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna.

According to her, 150 of 20 tonnes and 5 tonnes Roro bins, were distributed both in high density and commercial areas of Kaduna metropolis in 2018.

She said that this helped tremendously in bringing collection points closer to the residents and reduced the practice of indiscriminate dumping of waste.

Sijuwade said that there were 20 locations highly vulnerable to indiscriminate dumping of waste due to the economic activities being carried out in the areas, and this resulted to frequent waste generation.

Some of the areas are Maraban Rido, Sabon Tasha, Barnawa, Kakuri, Tudun Wada, Central Market, Federal Government College Malali fence, Badarawa, Badikko Primary school fence, Ungwar Rimi and Kurmin Mashi along express.

She said that the Ministry, in collaboration with Kaduna Geographic Information Service (KADGIS), has written to the owners of the plots where these communal dumps emerge on people’s undeveloped plots.

“We have reminded them of the law that prohibits use of plots of lands, as illegal dump site, and failure to comply may result to revocation.

“In the same vein, the ministry has requested community leaders to caution their subjects about the law and the possible implications of violation, “she said.

The commissioner said further that the state government has a plastic recycling plant which was set up by the Federal Ministry of Environment, but has not been in operation.

“In addition, contract was awarded for the purchase and installation of Double Blown Plastics Machine which is yet to be completed.

“Plans are in top gear to complete and revive the plant this year to enable the contractor commence waste to wealth in the second phase of the waste management programme,” she said.

The commissioner disclosed that the company responsible for solid waste evacuation in the state, Cape Gate Investment Company Limited,  has already commenced mopping up of plastics bottles, nylon bags and discarded tyres that are littered in Kaduna at no cost to the government. (NAN)

– Jan. 23, 2019 @ 02:40 GMT |