The Nasarawa government on Tuesday warned residents against indiscriminate dumping of refuse, kicking off a joint task force operation called “Keep Karu Clean” in Karu.

Sole administrator of the Nasarawa State Waste Management Bureau (NASWAMB), Abubakar Aliyu-Madaki, said this while addressing newsmen on the operation.

He said that the exercise was geared towards safeguarding the health and well being of the people and addressing the issue of flooding in some urban areas in the state.

“I want to advise the people of the state to always keep their environment clean by avoiding indiscriminate dumping of refuse in waterways, gutters, market places in the interest of their health and well being,” he said.

According to him, indiscriminate waste disposal and blockage of water drains had become worrisome, hence the operation.

Mr Aliyu-Madaki said that part of the exercise was also to ensure that traders who display their wares along the Keffi-Abuja highway and obstruct traffic were relocated to designated markets in the area.

He said that the state government had provided traders with an enabling environment for business at the Muhammadu Buhari International market.

“I, therefore, charge all traders operating by the Keffi-Abuja highway to relocate to the market as the task force will not spare any defaulter,” he added.

He said that the task force would prosecute defaulters to serve as a deterrent to others.