Rights Activist, Idris Milliki has advocated a more proactive and result-oriented sanitation policy in Kogi State.
Milliki, who heads the Conscience For Human Rights and Conflict Resolution, CHRCR, group, made the call in a statement in Lokoja, Kogi State capital.
He said the review of the sanitation policy under the new administration of Ahmed Usman Ododo is imperative to reflect the current challenges of the mass movement of daily traffic passing through the state capital and causing environmental challenges.
He said, “Lokoja the state headquarters, hosts various markets and motor parks but the environmental situation in those places is worrisome, as they are unkempt. We are also worried, it seems there is no demarcation between the Sanitation Board and the company expected to clean Lokoja Town. As in many occasions, the government vehicles are being used by private companies engaged to clean the city”. He stressed.
He decried the unavailability of potable water in Kogi State, particularly in Lokoja, which hosts both the River Niger and Benue, adding that the issue of open defecation is on the increase in the state capital and across the state.
”Refuse is scattered across the town, without the evacuation as and when due, worst of all is the refuse dump sites which have remained unkept without proper management”.
He called for the declaration of a State of Emergency on water and sanitation in Kogi State without further delay and recommended that a specific date for cleaning markets, motor parks, relaxation centres and public spaces be created.
Miliki also called for a stakeholders conference on environment sanitation in Kogi state that will generate ideas on how to move the all-important sector forward.
Declare state of emergency on water, sanitation in Kogi – Activist to Gov Ododo
