The Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) said on Monday that it arrested 38 mentally deranged persons on the street, and had taken them to a rehabilitation centre.
Mr Samuel Musa, Assistant Head, Public Relations Officer, disclosed that the effort was in collaboration with Social Development Secretariat (SDS) FCT.
Musa said that the board monitors FCT neighbourhoods to ensure that such people are captured and handed over to tbe SDS, for rehabilitation and repatriation to their original destinations.
He said that the effort was to achieve a healthy environment in the FCT.
He said the board was committed to remove such people from the street, saying AEPB patrol team would continue to monitor the city in collaboration with other sister agencies.
Musa said that the board had pilot Life Camp District in Integrated Solid Waste Management project in the FCT.
He said that one of the objectives of the project was to improve the treatment and final disposal of municipal solid waste.
He added that the project was in collaboration with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), adding that it was a positive development that would promote waste management in the city.
Musa said that the board had enlightened residents on proper ways to use their bins at all times.
“This is part of sensitisation, educating the residents how waste can be managed.
“We have started with Life Camp; we will ensure that we get to all the FCT communities with our sensitisation programme. This effort will help the board to achieve its goal of keeping the city clean,’’ he said.
He, however, urged the residents to always ensure prompt payment of their environmental service bills and make proper use of bins to promote healthy environment.
Musa said that the board would continue prosecuting residents who refused to pay their service management bills.
According to him, the prosecution would go a long way to encourage the residents to comply with the environmental laws and regulations.