Chairman of Taraba State Environmental Sanitation Agency, Hon. Iliya Kefas
Taraba State Environmental Sanitation Agency (TSESA) has appealed to Governor Agbu Kefas to increase funding for the agency to strengthen efforts aimed at preventing malaria and cholera across the state.
The agency said additional funds would enable it to extend ongoing sanitation, fumigation, drainage clearance and tree-planting programmes from Jalingo, the state capital, to all 16 local government areas.
Chairman of the agency, Hon. Iliya Kefas, made the appeal in an exclusive interview with National Accord. He said the agency had expanded its responsibilities beyond routine sanitation to include fumigation of sensitive areas, evacuation of blocked culverts and drainages, and environmental beautification through tree planting.
While appreciating Governor Kefas for supporting the agency, he said more funding had become necessary because of the wider scope of its operations.
“The governor has been supportive and encouraging to us by promptly allocating funds for the agency at all times, why we are asking for more funds is because we have expanded our duties from mere sanitation to fumigation of sensitive areas, evacuation of blocked culverts and drainages and planting of trees.
“If allocation of funds is step up, it will create more jobs, make our areas self and eradicate diseases in our local communities, all funds allocated to our agency will be judiciously applied to use, our mandate is to keep Taraba clean and we are ready to do it at all the times.”
Hon. Kefas said expanding the programme to all parts of the state would help reduce the risk of malaria and cholera outbreaks, improve public health and create a cleaner environment for residents.
He noted that the agency has already embarked on large-scale evacuation of blocked culverts and drainages, roadside fumigation and the planting of more than 10,000 trees in Jalingo.
According to him, the tree-planting campaign has transformed the appearance of the state capital, making many parts of the city greener while contributing to environmental sustainability.
A visit by NATIONAL ACCORD to different parts of Jalingo showed that workers of the agency were actively clearing blocked drainages and culverts, while tree planting continued along major roads.
The agency expressed confidence that with increased government support, it would be able to sustain its environmental sanitation campaign and extend the benefits to communities across Taraba State.
