The Taraba State Environmental and Sanitation Agency (TSESA) has commenced a statewide desilting exercise to open blocked drainages and clear overgrown vegetation as part of efforts to prevent flooding and improve environmental sanitation across the state.
The exercise, which is taking place simultaneously in the headquarters of all 16 local government areas, including Jalingo, is aimed at ensuring free flow of water through drainage channels and reducing the risk of flooding during the rainy season.
In addition to clearing blocked drainages, the agency has begun spraying herbicides along major roads to remove overgrown bushes, improve visibility, enhance public safety, and beautify communities.
Speaking on Tuesday, while conducting journalists round ongoing sanitation projects in Jalingo, the Chairman of TSESA, Iliya Kefas Alhaji, said the initiative reflects the Taraba State government’s commitment to maintaining a cleaner and healthier environment.
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According to him, Governor Agbu Kefas approved the funds required for the exercise, while thousands of youths have been engaged to support the sanitation campaign across 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 spraying herbicides along roadsides,” Alhaji said.
He described environmental sanitation as a collective responsibility that requires commitment and sustained effort from both government and residents.
“Our job is a difficult one. It requires energy, commitment, and determination. We have to do it because nobody will come and do it for us. It is our state, and it is our responsibility to keep it clean,” he added.
Alhaji appealed to residents to complement the government’s efforts by disposing of waste properly and using designated collection points to facilitate effective evacuation by sanitation workers.
Meanwhile, residents of Jalingo have praised Governor Kefas for establishing TSESA, saying the agency has significantly improved the cleanliness of the state capital.
They noted that the sanitation interventions had transformed the city’s environment and urged the government to sustain the programme.
A resident of the Mayo-Dasa community, Francis Ikyur, said the ongoing drainage clearance would help address the persistent flooding that had affected the area for years.
“The drainages here in Mayo-Dasa were completely blocked with sand, leaving no passage for water. That was why we experienced flooding even after light rainfall.
“Now that TSESA has opened the waterways, rainwater will flow freely, regardless of how heavy the rainfall is,” he said.
Residents expressed optimism that the agency’s sustained operations would promote a cleaner environment, reduce flood risks, and protect communities from the dangers associated with blocked drainage systems and indiscriminate waste disposal.
