Plateau State Environmental Protection and Sanitation Agency (PEPSA), has advocates for continue synergy and collaboration with the traditional rulers, community leaders and stakeholders to enhance total during monthly sanitation exercise.

Director General of PEPSA, Samuel Dapiya revealed that 
 sanitation exercise is not just about sweeping the streets, rather is about saving lives, preventing flooding,and  protecting buildings.

Dapiya represented by the agency director-administration, Izang Dauda Pate for the month of August exercise, held Saturday expressed disappointment with the behaviour of some residents in state.

"We are not happy because we visited one of the locally made beer joints, where almost 20 people were seen taking brew (Butukutu) at 8 o’clock, which is not good because they were supposed to be there after the sanitation. 

"I want to warn the proprietors of Burkutu joints, shop owners and passers-by that they should close their shops whenever we have this monthly sanitation until 10 o’clock. And failure to comply with this order is tantamount to punishment", Pate stated.

He appreciates governor Caleb Mutfwang and enforcement team who worked tirelessly towards actualizing the sanitation exercise.

Director of enforcement Barnabas Dalyop Pam, acknowledged this month’s sanitation was a success, even though in some areas there are hitches. 

According to him, "We discovered some few individuals moving during the sanitation hours, and some marketers were operating during the sanitation in some areas.

"But that notwithstanding, in fact, we had a collaboration of a team with security unions from different branches, and quite a number of people were prosecuted and fined for various offences.

"And I will say it without missing a word that it has come to stay. Sanitation has come to stay, and we will make sure that each and every nook and cranny of Plateau State must adopt sanitation.

"Because sanitation is something that we must abide by. We discovered just recently that there was an outbreak of cholera, even here in Jos. So, with that, I want to believe that awareness must continue.

"And I know that behavioural change is something that will not happen just once; it’s a continual process. And that is what the agency has put ahead to ensure that every part of Plateau State must adhere to sanitation laws", Pam noted.

The director enforcement further disclosed that before the August exercise the agency carried  out awareness in different communities, sensitise them on the need to keep the environment clean and also obey sanitation laws.

"And I want to believe that we have seen some of the communities we went to this morning. We have seen it, but just a few communities that are still not willing to adhere to sanitation laws.

"And I know in everything that there must be people that still want to oppose the effort of the government, but these are the category of people that, yes, we must enforce the law on them", he added.