The Kano State Government has concluded arrangements to clean up the various drains and drainage systems scattered across the state a part of measures to prevent possible flooding especially within the metropolis

Arewa PUNCH gathered that aside the capital city metropolis, the state also targets other major towns in the state against this coming rainy season.

The State Commissioner of Environment, Alhaji Nasiru Sule Garo, made the disclosure in an interview with Arewa  PUNCH in Kano on Monday.

The commissioner who spoke through the Director, Public Enlightenment of the Ministry, Samaila Gwammaja, said the measure was necessary in order to avoid loss of lives and property as well as to reduce the level of damage.

According to Gwammaja, “As you are aware, Kano is one of the 31 states that has been identified by the Federal Government to be hit by flood during this year’s rainy season.

“So, based on that prediction, even though it may not be true, we decided to take some measures in order to avoid possible flooding in the state,” he said.

He said during the clean up exercise, all blocked drainages would be evacuated to ensure free flow of waste water in addition to removing all temporary structures mounted on top of drainages within and around the city.

“So, I can assure the people of the state that the Kano State government is taking every necessary step and measures to prevent flooding, which has been a recurring phenomenon in the past,” Gwammaja added.

He also disclosed that the government had also commenced a public awareness campaign against indiscriminate dumping of refuse and other unwanted materials into the waterways and drains as well as on the streets.

“This is part of the renewed measures being taken to check the adverse effects of such ugly attitude on the environment as well as to address the various environmental challenges bedevilling the state.

“The growing level of pollution as a result of dumping unwanted materials in drains and drainages is causing a serious health hazard to the residents, especially in the state capital,” the commissioner observed.

Thus, he disclosed that the state government had procured additional trucks to ensure  proper waste disposal at the collection centres across the state capital.

According to the commissioner, the monthly environmental sanitation exercise being observed by the state government is part of an effort to ensure that the capital is clean and tidy.

“We shall continue to sustain the monthly environmental sanitation as one of measures taken by the government to check indiscriminate dumping of refuse and keep the state clean,” he said.

Gwammaja disclosed that the State Governor, Abba Kabir Yusuf, had recently launched a tree planting campaign of three million trees as part of  the state government’s desertification project across the 44 local government areas of the state.

Therefore, the commissioner warned the people to desist from indiscriminate felling of trees without seeking permission from the relevant authority.

“I want to use this opportunity to warn people against indiscriminate felling of trees without getting permission from the relevant agencies or authorities,” Sule Garo said.

PUNCH