As part of its pre-rainy-season preparedness efforts towards averting flooding, the Yobe State Environmental Protection Agency (YOSEPA) have embarked on an extensive drainage clearance and waste-evacuation operation across Damaturu the state capital.
The campaign according to a statement from the Information Officer of the agency, Mamman Hussaini, began in the Bindagari community, focusing on the Primary School area, where clogged drains have historically triggered flooding during heavy downpours.
Speaking during the exercise, the YOSEPA’s General Manager, Sanitarian Baba Gana Modu, described the project as critical in the quest to ensure environmental sanitation and free flow of water during the rainy season.
He said, “Maintaining clear drainage channels is our first line of defense against floods.
“Unimpeded water flow not only prevents property damage but also combats the breeding of mosquitoes and water-borne pathogens responsible for cholera and malaria.”
Modu warned residents against dumping refuse in open spaces, noting that indiscriminate waste disposal directly undermines the agency’s clean-up operations.
He announced that Governor Mai Mala Buni’s administration is finalising plans to establish designated refuse-disposal sites in strategic locations throughout the state.
Once operational, the sites he said will centralise waste collection, enhance environmental hygiene, and further the government’s sustainable-development agenda.
“We call on all citizens to embrace eco-friendly practices and to report any environmental infractions to the appropriate authorities.
“Together, we can safeguard our communities against the twin threats of flooding and disease.”