For Maduabuchi Nmeribeh, Kano
Kano State Ministry of Environment has evacuated over 20, 000 trips of refuse, while over 70, 000 linear meters of major and minor drainages were desilted within the ancient commercial city.
The state Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Kabiru Ibrahim Getso, who gave this hint during a press conference shortly after the monthly sanitation exercise on Saturday, said the exercise was carried out within 2022 as part of Keep Kano Clean Exercise (KKCE).
He further listed some of the interventions and programmes put in place to address environmental challenges by Kano State Government in the year 2022 to include the following: Implementation of a special programme tagged “Keep Kano Clean Exercise
(KKCE)” which was launched on 15th April, 2022 and concluded on Saturday 7th
May, 2022.
According to him: “It was a program that was meant to clear waste especially from major
collection centers within the state. During the 3-weeks long exercise, a total of
1,461 trips were evacuated from the city and disposed of safely
” Having seen the success and positive impact of the exercise, the 2nd phase of
keep Kano Clean Exercise (KKCE II) was conducted from Friday 24th June –
Thursday 13 July, 2022. During the 20 days exercise, a total of 1,946 trips were
evacuated from the city and disposed of.
“In order to prevent and control flooding in the state, Drainage Clearance Exercise,
2022 was carried out from Friday 29th April, 2022 to Wednesday 8th June, 2022
(39 days) during which more than 70,000 linear meters of major and minor
drainages within the city were desilted.
“In order to sustain provision of efficient Waste Management Services in the state,
another program “Keep Kano Clean Initiative (KKCI)” was developed which
commenced on 25th May, 2022 and has been going on since then.”
He added that: “From May 2022
to date, a total of 16,191 trips of refuse were evacuated, an average of 77 trips of
refuse evacuated from Kano City daily.
“Vectors and pests transmit several diseases of public health importance including
Malaria fever, cholera, Lassa fever, Onchocerciasis, Schistosomiasis,
Trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness) and Dracunculiasis (Guinea worm) which
continue to exert heavy morbidity and mortality burden especially in our rural
communities.
“There is therefore the need to ensure that adequate measures are
put in place for the prevention and control of pests and vectors in the State.
“In order to achieve this, the ministry has been undertaking routine pests and vector
control activities across the 44 LGA’s of the state. Some of these activities include:
Procurement of chemicals and equipment purchased worth over N150 million
for the conduct of Vectors and pests control activities in the state;
“Mosquito & Pest Control Operations across the 5 Emirates in the State;
Mosquito & Pest Control Operations across all the 87 Wards of the 8
metropolitan LGAs of the State; areas covered include:
57 Health Facilities, 104 Wards/Communities, 56 Drainage/Pounds, 29 Schools, 12 Correctional Homes,
24 Rehabilitation Centers,
56 MDA’s.
“A Total of 335 communities/premises/Institutions were covered from January
2022 to Date. House-to-House Sanitary Inspection: Sanitary Inspection of Premises within the
eight Metropolitan Local Government Areas total number of 945 premises were
inspected on house-to-house premises inspection.
“Active engagement of Sanitation Vanguards in activities like inspection of Small
Scale industries, Markets, Corner Shops, Street trading, Restaurants and Schools, enforcement of environmental regulations and laws, oversight of waste collection
centres, etc.”
He names other activities and achievements recorded by the Ministry from January 2022 to December 31 to include:
The recent signing of WECCMA Bill into law by His Excellency the Governor and
the setting up of Watershed, Erosion and Climate Change Management
Agency (WECCMA) by Kano State Government which is funded with a view to
effectively address major Erosion and the Climate Change issues in the state.
Conduct of retreat on Pollution Control Bill 2022 (1443 AH) for Honorable
Members of Kano State House of Assembly and Staff of Kano State Ministry of
Environment which took place from Wednesday 16th – Saturday 19th March, 2022 at Bafra Hotel Kaduna.
According to him: “Very recently, KNSG has enacted the Kano State Environmental Pollution Control
Law 2022 which was signed on Tuesday 22nd November, 2022 at the State
Executive Council meeting by His Excellency Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, OFR to
enforce compliance to environmental laws and regulations in the State.
“Kano State Government has been partnering with the National Great Green
Wall (NGGW) Project where it’s been providing funds and lands for the
establishment of community tree nurseries and plantations in the state.
“Kano State is also presently actively participating in the World Bank supported
Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL).
“The State
Government has provided the sum of ₦500million counterpart funds as well as
office complex for the State Project Management Unit (SPMU). The project’s areas of intervention include Erosion control, watershed management, Climate
change issues, capacity building, livelihood enhancement, among others.
“In order to combat climate change, within this year, KNSG has produced about
1,000,000 seedlings under Kano-NEWMAP project which were used for this year’s
Tree Planting Campaigns.
“In Collaboration with Ecological Project Office under the Office of the Secretary
to the Government of the Federation, an Integrated Industrial Waste
Management Facility is being established at Challawa, Sharada and Bompai
industrial estates.
“The construction of water conservation structures and the provision of minor
irrigation facilities at Yansabo community in Tofa LGA has been completed 100%
this year.
“Air quality monitoring exercise is being carried out regularly by Pollution Control
Department of the ministry. This is meant to address the problem of Air pollution
within the state.
“The ministry conducts regular monitoring of major markets, motor parks,
primary and secondary schools, health facilities and other premises across the
state with a view to address the challenge of open defaecation and its attendant
consequences.”
