By Bilkisu M. Usman

As part of efforts to ensure a well organized setting as well as inculcate a culture of cleanliness among the people, the Nasarawa State Urban Development Board (NUDB) has embarked on demolition of illegal filling stations in Lafia, the state capital.

The board general manager, operations, Architect Halidu Abubakar, who stated this in an interview with Nigerian Newsday recently in his office, said the action would help to ensure free movement of traffic.

He said that the illegal filling stations’ refuse dumps in some major streets within the town had become a source of great concern to both the government and people.

Architect Abubakar explained that the affected filling stations were operating without approval of either the state ministry of land or department of petroleum resources.

He also said that houses built beneath Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) high tension wire would be demolished.

He said that in a bid to achieve this objective which is in line with the Governor Doma 13-point agenda, the board has engaged the services of 172 women as street sweepers to ensure cleanliness of the environment.

He said that arrangements have reached final stage to open more NUDB offices in the 3 senatorial districts of the state so as to ensure effective and efficient execution of the board’s mandate.

Architect Abubakar also said that the state government through the board had already purchased plastic dustbins of different sizes, which would be sold at prices that every resident and commercial outfit could afford.

He said that the aim was to check indiscriminate dumping of refuse by the public.

He further said that the government has acquired a piece of land for all those who want to build filling station for commercial purposes and also land have been provided for the building of new motor park in order to decongest and ensure free movement of vehicles in Lafia town.

He pleaded with journalists to assist government in creating awareness on some of the government activities aimed at providing conducive atmosphere, especially in the area of "Let’s keep Nasarawa State clean".