Residents of Maiduguri, Borno State capital, have urged the state government to recruit sanitary officers to ensure good hygiene and proper disposal of waste by households.

Some of the residents, who spoke to journalists, expressed concern over the indiscriminate disposal of refuse in many wards in the metropolis as some households still dumped refuse in drainages.

“Government needs to introduce sanitary officers in all wards, and this personnel would drag defaulters to sanitation court for sanction.

“Some residents empty their toilet wastes into drainages at night, an act that can culminate in the cholera outbreak,” Hafiz Ali, a resident, said.

He added, “Having sanitary officers on patrol can check such excesses and help sit people up to their responsibility in ensuring g clean and healthy environment in line with the state 25-year development plan geared towards meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).”

Abubakar Ibrahim and Faruk Abdullahi lauded the government for resuscitating the state monthly sanitation programme and the recruitment of some youths as sanitation vanguards.

“The monthly sanitation exercise that involves the participation of clubs and associations only ensured major roads are clean as areas of concentration, but streets and drainage inside wards remained dirty.

“We need sanitation officers just as we have the newly created Borno State Transport Management Agency (BOTMA) that ensures sanity on the roads,” Mr Ibrahim said.

John Zakariya, who also supports the introduction of sanitary officers, stated that they would not only improve sanitation in the city but also generate revenue from fines.

“Since some people are still stubborn by refusing to do the proper thing, there is a need for a relevant authority to compel them.

“We have Civilian Joint Task Force supporting the military and other security agencies in security. Wee also have BOTMA supporting the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in containing reckless driving by motorists; there is also the need to have sanitary officers and effective sanitation court to ensure a clean environment,” Mr Zakariya added. 

(NAN)