PEPSA Inaugurates Markets Sanitation Committee to Sustain Plateau’s Clean State Ranking

The Director General of the Plateau Environmental Protection and Sanitation Agency (PEPSA) has inaugurated the Markets Sanitation Committee in Plateau State. This initiative follows a meeting earlier held on June 25, 2024, with the Plateau State Traders and Marketers Association (PSTMA) to discuss strategies for maintaining clean and safe markets, preventing them from becoming hotspots for disease transmission.

This effort aims to build on the recent success highlighted in the Nigerian Tribune article on August 26, 2024, which ranked Plateau State among the Top 8 cleanest states in Nigeria for 2024. The rating, conducted by the National Technical Study Group (NTSG), is a source of pride and renews our commitment to fulfilling the mandate given to us by His Excellency, Barr. Caleb Mutfwang. Credit for this achievement goes first to him and to the many frontline workers and the people of Plateau who have diligently worked to keep Jos clean.

In light of this success, the Markets Sanitation Committee was inaugurated today, during which the Director General Mr. Samuel Nathaniel Dapiya outlined the committee’s terms of reference:

1. Identify all markets in Plateau State.
2. Constitute an Executive Committee for the Markets Sanitation Committee and submit it to the Agency for proper documentation.
3. The committee’s timeframe is set from August 28, 2024, to September 6, 2024.
4. Establish the need for a monthly report on market sanitation.
5. Ensure that all sanitation fees are paid into the Agency’s Revenue Account.
6. Determine the date and time for the observance of market sanitation exercises in Plateau State.
7. Set out sanitation fines per individual, to be paid into the Agency’s Revenue Account by defaulters.
8. Outline the financial implications for market sanitation.

PEPSA is collaborating with the Jos Metropolitan Development Board (JMDB) and traders, through their unions, to ensure that our markets, which generate significant waste, are kept clean.

The General Manager of the Jos Metropolitan Development Board (JMDB), Arc. Hart Bankat also encouraged the trade unions to discuss these measures with their members and address the issues outlined in the terms of reference.

This committee is expected to report back in the coming weeks, with the goal of ensuring that our markets become cleaner going forward.