The Nasarawa Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources on Saturday arrested 211 persons for violating environmental sanitation laws of the state.

Abubakar Mohammed, Chief Prosecuting Officer of the ministry, made the disclosure to journalists in Lafia after the April sanitation exercise in the state.

He said the offenders were arrested across the 13 Local Government Areas of the state for transacting their private businesses during the sanitation exercise.

Mr Mohammed said that the offences violated the provisions of Section 9 (2) of the State Environmental Sanitation Law.

He said the offenders were prosecuted by various Mobile Courts across the state to serve as a deterrent to others.

Speaking about the level of compliance, the chief prosecutor put it 90 per cent and lauded residents of the state for their commitment to the exercise.

He said that Yakubu Kwanta, Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, led a team to Akwanga LGA to ensure compliance in the area.

“We only allowed those with permission from relevant authorities and those on essential services to pass, and move around during the exercise,” he added.

He noted that they have strengthened the capacity of the inspectors, and deployed them to rural areas for house-to-house inspection to enhance efficiency.

He called on members of the public to always keep their environment clean to guard against outbreaks of diseases.

“Residents should cooperate more with the government towards ensuring that the slate is clean in their best interest.

“If the environment is kept clean, it will guard against a possible outbreak of any disease, thereby ensuring improved healthy living of the people,” he added.

He said that with coming of the rainy season, the ministry had issued notices to residents to clear drainages around their houses and business premises  in order to avert flooding.

Mr Mohammed said failure to do so, owners of such houses or business would be liable to a fine of N10,000 according to the state environmental sanitation law.

(NAN)