From Leo Nzwanke, Lafia
A mobile court, handling environmental-related cases, on Saturday prosecuted 18 persons for alleged violation of environmental sanitation laws in Lafia, Nasarawa State.
The Prosecutor, Mr Abubakar Mohammed, who is also a Chief Environment Officer, told the court that the suspects were transacting their private businesses while the sanitation exercise was in progress.
Mohammed said that the offences violated Section 9(2), of the State Environmental Sanitation Law.
He urged the court to sanction the culprits accordingly to serve as deterrent to others.
The judge, Mr Abdullahi Lande, convicted and sentenced them to six months imprisonment each with option of fine of between N5,000 and N50,000.
Meanwhile, Mr Aliyu Agwai, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources lauded residents of the state for their compliance with the sanition laws.
Agwai added that despite the rainfall a lot of residents of Lafia cleaned their surrending and shops as well as cleared drains around their environments.
He noted that they have strengthen the capacity of the inspectors and deployed them to rural areas to inspect house to house to enhance efficiency.
He called on members of the public to always keep their environment clean to guard against outbreak of diseases.
“Residents should cooperate more with the government towards ensuring that the state is clean in their best interest.
“If the environment was kept clean, it will guard against possible outbreak of any disease, thereby ensuring improved healthy living of the people,’’ he added.
Recall that the last Saturday of every month is set aside by the Nasarawa State Government for sanitation exercise.
