In a renewed effort to tackle the growing threat of flooding and improve environmental cleanliness, the Taraba State Environmental and Sanitation Agency (TSESA) has commenced a massive opening of blocked drainages across the 16 local government headquarters of the state, including Jalingo, the state capital.

The exercise, which is being carried out simultaneously across the state, is aimed at creating free waterways and preventing the accumulation of floodwater during heavy rainfall.

Beyond drainage clearance, TSESA has also begun the spraying of herbicides to clear overgrown bushes along major roadsides, a move aimed at improving public safety, protecting pedestrians, and enhancing the aesthetic outlook of communities across the state.

The Chairman of TSESA, Iliya Kefas Alhaji, disclosed this on Tuesday while conducting journalists round some of the ongoing sanitation activities in Jalingo.

According to him, the exercise was being executed across all local government headquarters as part of the state government’s commitment to maintaining a cleaner and healthier environment.

Alhaji explained that governor Agbu Kefas had approved the necessary funds for the agency to undertake the sanitation campaign, adding that thousands of youths had been engaged to support the initiative.

“The governor, Dr.Agbu Kefas, has already approved funds for the agency to conduct the cleanliness of the state. We have engaged thousands of youths; some are responsible for sweeping our streets, some for opening blocked drainages, while others are involved in spreading herbicides along roadsides,” he said.

He described sanitation as a demanding responsibility that requires commitment, energy, and collective determination from both government and residents.

“Our job is a difficult one; it requires energy, power, and determination. We have to do it because nobody can come here and do it for us. It is our state and it is our responsibility to keep it clean,” Alhaji stated.

The TSESA chairman also appealed to residents to support the government’s efforts by ensuring proper waste disposal and using designated waste collection points to allow for effective evacuation.

Residents Applaud Sanitation Efforts
Meanwhile, residents of Jalingo have commended Governor Agbu Kefas for establishing TSESA, describing the agency’s operations as a major improvement in the sanitation condition of the state capital.

The residents said the city had witnessed a remarkable transformation in cleanliness within the period of the agency’s activities and urged the state government to sustain the programme.
Speaking during the drainage clearance exercise, a resident of Mayo-Dasa, Francis Ikyur, said the opening of blocked waterways would significantly reduce the frequent flooding experienced in the area.

“The drainages here in Mayo-Dasa were totally closed up and filled with sand. There were no waterways, and that was why we were experiencing constant flooding whenever there was little rain. Now, TSESA has opened the waterways, and no matter how it rains, the water will always have a passage,” Ikyur said.

Residents expressed hope that the continued operation of the agency would help maintain a cleaner environment and protect communities from the dangers associated with poor drainage systems and indiscriminate waste disposal.