The Nasarawa State Government has threatened to demolished all structures built on water ways to curtail any possible flooding.
Mr Yakubu Kwanta, Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources made the disclosure while briefing newsmen on Saturday in Lafia after the August sanitation exercise.
The Commissioner who was represented by Malam Abubakar Mohammed, Chief Environment Officer who is also the Chief Prosecutor of the ministry, said the ministry was being proactive to prevent any disaster.
He explained that the decision to demolish the structures followed the recent prediction by NiMET that there would be flooding in 25 states including Nasarawa State.
He explained that already the government had directed the residents of floods prone areas to relocate to safer grounds.
According to him, giving the way flood had ravaged some parts of Nasarawa State in the recent past, the ministry would not allow anybody to block the water ways.
“When you block the water ways and prevent water from free flow, you are invited disaster, because any how it will fine its way to pass,” Mr Kwanta added.
On the level of compliance on the sanitation exercise, the commissioner expressed satisfaction and applauded the traditional rulers, Chairmen of Area Councils as well as the security agencies for the success of the exercise.
He said that about the 85 per cent of the residents complied by looking their shops and business to clean the surrounding during the sanitation exercise.
He said the state was shutdown during the exercise in line with the law, except those on essential services.
“We only allowed those with permission from relevant authorities and those on essential services to pass, and move around during the exercise,” he added.
He therefore, called on members of the public to always keep their environment clean to guard against outbreaks of diseases.
Meanwhile 86 persons suspected to have violated environmental sanitation laws across the state were arrested and prosecuted by various mobile courts in the respective LGAs. (NAN).
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