- The commissioner called on the public to support the government’s efforts to keep the environment clean
No fewer than 17 people were arrested and tried at a mobile court in Gombe State on Saturday for violating environmental sanitation laws.
The offenders, which included motorcycle riders, Keke NAPEP operators, and attendants at fuel stations and restaurants, were apprehended during the state’s monthly end-of-the-month sanitation exercise. The mobile court session was presided over by Magistrate Maikudi Bamai at the Gombe Divisional Police Station.
Addressing journalists, the state Commissioner for Water, Environment and Forest Resources, Mohammed Fawu, warned that sanitation offenders would henceforth be made to sweep streets and cut grasses as part of their punishment. He stated that the move was intended to serve as a deterrent and encourage compliance with environmental regulations.
“Health is wealth and should not be neglected for any reason. The current administration is committed to prioritising the well-being of residents,” Fawu said.
He added that most offenders claimed they were on their way to farms and argued they needed to work to stave off hunger. However, the commissioner stressed that maintaining good health through sanitation is crucial, as no one can work effectively when they are ill.
The commissioner called on the public to support the government’s efforts to keep the environment clean, emphasizing that the exercise is not aimed at restricting movement but at ensuring a healthy living environment.
The mobile court, he noted, has been mandated to adjudicate on sanitation issues and ensure justice is served. Fawu highlighted that all offenders had been processed at various police stations in town, where they would face charges.
“We will inform the public about the fines collected during the exercise. Nobody pays cash; we have staff from the internal revenue department with us. Once payment is made, it goes directly to the state treasury,” he explained.
He hinted that future sanitation exercises would see increased enforcement, warning that even customers at filling stations would be arrested if caught violating the law.
The commissioner praised residents for their improved compliance during this month’s sanitation exercise but noted that challenges remain, particularly with motorcycle riders who are often the main culprits.
Fawu disclosed that offenders at the next exercise will be given brooms and cutlasses to clean the environment, reiterating that the state government will continue to enforce the no-movement rule, which includes restricting trekking during sanitation hours.
“We will ensure security is increased at key points, and offenders will be equipped with the tools to do what they should have done at home—cleaning and tidying up the environment,” he added.
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