Nigerian Newsday

By Al-Imam Umar Lafia

In a bid to sensitize Nigerians on the need to imbibe the culture of environmental cleanliness, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has flagged-off a campaign tagged "keep Nigeria clean".

Delivering his address at the occasion in Lafia, the Nasarawa state capital last week the Director-General of the agency, Alhaji Idi Faruk represent by the Nasarawa State Director of the Agency, Alhaji Ishaku D. Abari stressed the need to maintain high standard of cleanliness in the country.

The director-general said in the past, Nigerians placed high premium on environmental sanitation at both the community and household levels. He however regretted that the story is different owing to factors such as rapid increase in population and urbanization.

He said the National Orientation Agency is concerned over the decline in the standard of environmental cleanliness in the country. He said in line with its mandate and value, NOA would re-commence the sensitization and mobilization of all Nigerians to imbibe the culture of environmental cleanliness, stressing that, "attitude matters in our national development".

He said the agency would introduce a systematic approach of refuse collection and disposal, where by each household would be expected to keep a refuse bin for direct collection by waste management operators.

He said sites would be earmarked for dumping of wastes instead of the current practice of dumping of waste in the streets and other public places.