The government of Kogi State has announced a ban on the dumping of refuse in unauthorized places across the 21 local government areas of the state, as anyone caught would be jailed.
The State Commissioner for Environment, Victor Omofaiye announced the ban in a statement on Sunday.
The Commissioner noted that the new order was part of efforts to implement the new Kogi State Sanitation and Environmental Health Law of 2022 recently signed by Governor Yahaya Bello.
The government said any one found guilty would be jailed for three months or pay an option of a fine of N25,000.
Omofaiye warned the general public to desist from dumping waste on the road median, public drainages (gutter), open spaces, or any unauthorized places besides the designated spots in the metropolis.
“Landlords and Landladies, as a matter of urgency, should provide toilets in their houses to prevent open defecation across the State. The new Kogi State Sanitation and Environmental Health Law of 2022 stipulates a fine of N25,000.00 or 3 months’ imprisonment for anyone caught violating this new law.
“Cleanliness they say is next godliness, the duty of every citizen is to clean his/her environment by cutting overgrown weeds, desilt the drainages {and “dump their refuse waste in Government approved spots for final collection and disposal.
“Shop owners, hawkers, landlords, tenants and the general public take note and do the needful. To be forewarned is to be forearmed. Let us be environmentally disciplined to prevent diseases, floods and other preventable health challenges”
