The Borno State Traffic Management Agency (BOTMA) has participated in the July Monthly Environmental Sanitation Exercise, urging residents to maintain a clean environment and warning that violators of environmental sanitation laws will face prosecution.
The exercise, organised by the Borno State Ministry of Environment in collaboration with the Borno State Environmental Protection Agency (BOSEPA) and the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, was conducted across several communities in Maiduguri to promote environmental cleanliness and public health.
The sanitation campaign was flagged off by the Commissioner for Environment, Engineer Habib, alongside representatives of the Federal Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Cholera Rapid Response Team, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Dr. Juliana Bitrus, the General Manager of BOTMA, Engineer Babashehu Tijjani, and other senior government officials.
The team inspected sanitation conditions in Bulabulin Abattoir, Gwange Layin Ambassador, Mashamari, and other communities, where they engaged residents on proper waste disposal practices and encouraged active participation in keeping their surroundings clean.
Speaking during the exercise, BOTMA General Manager, Engineer Babashehu Tijjani, cautioned residents against indiscriminate dumping of refuse on roadsides and into drainage channels, noting that blocked drains contribute to flooding, environmental pollution, and the spread of diseases.
He said the recent decline in cholera cases reflects the government’s sustained interventions and the cooperation of residents, urging the public to sustain good sanitation practices to protect public health.
Tijjani also warned that anyone found violating environmental sanitation regulations would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The exercise concluded at the BOSEPA headquarters, where government officials commended participating communities and stakeholders for their support and reaffirmed the Borno State Government’s commitment to strengthening environmental sanitation, preventing disease outbreaks, and promoting a healthier environment across the state.
