The Jigawa State Government has threatened legal action against residents who deliberately dump refuse into drainage channels, warning that offenders will be prosecuted under the state’s environmental laws.
The Jigawa State Environmental Protection Agency (JISEPA) said the practice, particularly by individuals who block drainages with waste to produce manure for their farms, would no longer be tolerated.
Managing Director of the agency, Sanitarian Adamu Sabo, gave the warning in Dutse during a training programme for waste pickers and aggregators sponsored by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF).
Sabo said the state had specific environmental laws prohibiting such practices and an environmental court empowered to prosecute offenders based on the nature of their violations.
He stressed that the agency would intensify enforcement to curb indiscriminate waste disposal and protect communities from sanitation-related challenges, particularly during the rainy season.
According to him, the government is determined to ensure that residents comply with environmental regulations and adopt responsible waste disposal practices.
The JISEPA boss said the training programme was designed to strengthen climate resilience and environmental sustainability through youth engagement, plastic waste management, circular economy initiatives and community-led interventions.
He explained that the exercise would equip waste pickers with modern waste management skills, including the use of protective clothing, personal hygiene and regular handwashing.
Sabo disclosed that at least 250 waste pickers selected from different parts of the state would benefit from the programme.
He added that the agency was also planning to support the registration of their businesses to enable them to access government assistance and other opportunities.
He assured that JISEPA would sustain its collaboration with waste pickers and other stakeholders to improve environmental sanitation across the state.
The training, he said, would be extended to other zones, including Ringim, Gumel, Kazaure and Hadejia.
Sabo urged residents to take responsibility for keeping their surroundings clean and become ambassadors of environmental sanitation.
