Kano State Government on Saturday said it would introduce stiffer penalty for violators of its monthly environmental sanitation regulation.
The Commissioner for Environment, Alhaji Ali Makoda, stated this shortly after monitoring the exercise in Kano metropolis.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the proposed stiffer sanctions will add to existing ones, including a range of fines for sanitations rules defaulters.
For instance, Eaman Bakery located at Guda Abdullahi Road was while the clean-up was ongoing, fined N60, 000 by the Sanitation Mobile Court for operating in a filthy environment.
Also, officials of Kundila Motor Park were summoned to the Ministry of Environment to explain why the park operated during the sanitation period.
Makoda decried the way and manner parents allowed their children to play football on the streets during the monthly sanitation, and insisted that the government would take stringent measures against violators of the exercise.
“The state government will not continue to fold its arms and allow the ugly trend to continue.
“It is disheartening to note that in spite of several warnings against such attitude, some parents still allow their wards to play football while the exercise is going on.
“This is unacceptable, and government will from next month take necessary steps to check the ugly trend,” he said.
On security, the commissioner expressed concern over the absence of policemen in most areas of the city visited.
He called on the Police Command in the state to ensure that adequate policemen were provided during sanitation, especially in the eight metropolitan council area, to enforce the order on restriction of movement. (NAN)