It is with great delight that I address you today on the occasion of the Flagg-off Ceremony for the re-introduction of the State Monthly Environmental
Sanitation Exercise.
I acknowledge the presence of an array of residents and stakeholders who have
turned out to be part of this important event. This is a testimony of our resolve to
turn a new chapter for the improvement of our environment.
Let me point out that nature has made the environment a friendly and very suitable source of livelihood for the benefit of man. There is no doubt that our agriculture, health, hospitality, and tourism, as well as other vital sectors of our economy, depend largely on the environment. It, therefore, behoves us to reciprocate by protecting and caring for the environment. By implication, we can only ignore the environment at our
peril.
It is, however, sad to note that in the course of me, our response to the well-being of the environment has left much to be desired. Through our attitude of indifference, we
have exposed not only the environment but ourselves to disease, devastation, and a bleak future. This is why this Administration is poised to restore the monthly
environmental sanitation exercise as a conscious step toward our sustainable wellbeing.
My dear people of Nasarawa State, in bringing back the monthly environmental sanitation, Government intends to implement the exercise not through coercion but by
inculcating a habit, indeed, a culture of cleanliness among the citizens of the State. Since environmental sanitation is ultimately about us as individuals, families, communies, and State, it is my hope and expectation that all and sundry
will come out and clean our surroundings at all times.
In this connection, I urge all Local Government Councils, Development Areas and Traditional Councils in the State to ensure that from today, all wards and households in their respective domains key into the new environmental sanitation initiative. Similarly, all Government Ministries, Departments, Agencies, as well as a private business
premises in the State will do well to comply with this directive. Suffice it to say that there is already an extant circular in this regard. For purposes of clarity, let me state that the sanitation exercise will be observed every last Saturday of the month
all over the State with the view to ensuring the maintenance of a hygienic and serene environment for healthy living.
It is pertinent to reiterate that this administration places high premium on the maintenance of a clean and habitable environment and has accordingly evolved a reward system in form of an award to be given to the cleanest Local
Government Area in the State.
The injection of competition amongst our 3 tier of The government is intended to make the thirteen (13) Local Government Councils responsive to the imperative of the
sanitation exercise. I, therefore, call on the traditional rulers, religious and opinion leaders, and corporate organizations to sensitize our respective communities to
embrace the exercise, as well as to synergize with the Government towards ensuring that our environment remains clean and free from pollution and other contaminated hazards that are detrimental to human’s health.
On this note, it is my pleasure to flag off the Monthly Environmental Sanitation Exercise in Nasarawa State.
Thank you and may God bless us all.
