Taraba sanitation agency tackles flood with mass opening of drainage

The Taraba State Environmental and Sanitation Agency (TSESA) has embarked on massive opening of drainages across the 16 Local Government Headquarters of the State and Jalingo, the State Capital to cumb the predicted flood activities.

TSESA has also commenced spraying of herbicide to bushes by the roadsides across the State in order to safeguard pedestrians and bring about cleanliness of the State.

Iliya Kefas Alhaji, the Chairman Taraba State Environmental And Sanitation Agency while conducting journalists round during their activities in Jalingo on Tuesday, said the exercise was ongoing simultaneously across the 16 Local Government Headquarters of the State.

Alhaji said Governor Agbu Kefas had already approved the desired funds for the agency to conduct the cleanliness of the State, urging the residents to properly dispose waste at already designated areas for proper evacuation.

“The governor, His Excellency Dr Agbu Kefas has already approved funds for the agency to conduct the cleanliness of the State, we have engaged thousands of youths, some for sweeping our streets, some for opening blockages inside drainages while others are for spreading herbicides by the roadsides.

Read also: Why Lagos’ flooding will persist 

“Our job is a difficult one, it’s needs energy, power and determination, we have to do it, nobody can come here and do it for us, it is our state and it is our responsibility to make it clean”, Alhaji stated.

Meanwhile, residents of Jalingo, Taraba State Capital have appreciated Governor Agbu Kefas for introduction of TSESA, saying the sanitation in the State Capital had greatly improved the hygiene of the people within the period.

Speaking with BusinessDay during the exercise, the residents called on the governor to sustain the operations of the agency. Those who spoke to BusinessDay said for over years, the State capital had not experienced the clean outlook it is currently wearing.

“The drainages here in Mayo-Dasa were totally closed up, filled up with sand, there was no waterways and that is the reason why we were having constant flooding anytime there is little rain. Now, waterways have been open by the TSESA, no matter how it rains, the water will always have it way to pass”, Francis Ikyur, a Resident of Mayo-Dasa, told BusinessDay.