The Jigawa State Environmental Protection Agency, JISEPA, has warned that residents who deliberately block drainage channels with waste will face prosecution under the state's environmental laws.
The Managing Director of the agency, Sanitarian Adamu Sabo, gave the warning in Dutse while speaking during a training programme for waste pickers and aggregators sponsored by the United Nations Children's Fund, UNICEF.
Sabo said the agency would not tolerate practices that undermine environmental sanitation, particularly the deliberate dumping of waste into drainages by people seeking to produce manure for their farms.
He explained that the state has specific laws against such practices and an environmental court empowered to prosecute offenders according to the nature of their offences.
According to him, the agency is committed to enforcing environmental regulations to prevent indiscriminate waste disposal and protect communities from sanitation-related problems, particularly during the rainy season.
The JISEPA managing director said the training was designed to strengthen climate resilience and environmental sustainability through youth engagement, plastic waste management, circular economy initiatives and community-led action.
He explained that the programme would equip waste pickers with modern waste management skills, including the use of protective clothing, proper hygiene and regular handwashing.
Sabo said at least 250 waste pickers selected from across the state would benefit from the training, adding that the agency also intended to support the registration of their businesses to enable them to access government assistance.
He assured that the agency would continue to work with waste pickers and other stakeholders to improve environmental sanitation across the state.
The training is expected to be extended to other zones, including Ringim, Gumel, Kazaure and Hadejia.
He urged residents to take responsibility for maintaining clean surroundings and become ambassadors of environmental sanitation.