The Kebbi State Environmental Protection Agency (KESEPA) has described lack of enough refuse dump sites in the metropolis as a major factor that leads to indiscriminate waste disposal in the state.
The agency’s Director of Planning Alhaji Aliyu Mallam Umar disclosed this today when the project team of eTrash2cash, a youth-led Social Enterprise Company paid advocacy visits to the agency in Birnin Kebbi.
He explained that lack of enough functional dump sites in most areas of the metropolis has been a major challenge for the agency, leading to serious environmental and climate change issues as a result of poor waste management practices among households.
“We have a serious challenge with refuse sites. Kebbi State used to have 130 dump sites at the inception of the state. But as I speak, only 13 are currently in operation and the rest were converted to other uses”
This according to him, leads to indiscriminate waste disposal which would result in serious environmental and health related problems in the state.
The agency reiterated it’s commitment to support the project team, as this will go along way in empowering communities with proper environmental hygiene practices that would ensure a healthy and sustainable society.
Introducing the project team to the agency, the Project Lead Mohammed Chiroma Hassan said they were at the agency to seek for collaboration in the implementation of the newly launched project tagged Faith for Climate Change Action (#F4CCA) in the state.
“We envisioned creating sustainable societies that are not only zero waste, but healthy, educated and well informed. Our mission is to support people to sustainably exchange their plastic waste for worthwhile incentives that can better their lives”. He noted.
Speaking earlier, the General Manager of the agency Aliyu Umar Dikko, has assured the agency’s readiness to partner with the group for smooth implementation of the project in the state.
“We are happy to hear about your initiative. We are proud of initiatives like this, whose goal is to ensure environmental sustainability. We assure you of a maximum cooperation from this agency, and hope that your collaboration with Kebbi State actors yields a positive result “.
The project which will be implemented with support from the Aspire Coronation Trust (ACT) Foundation, focuses on plastic waste evacuation for financial gain, where religious institutions in the state would serve as collection centers while also leveraging on their influential voices for efficient and smooth implementation of the project activities in the communities.
