The Plateau Government says sanitary inspectors are serving in all 17 local government areas (LGAs) to enforce environmental sanitation standards.
Mr Samuel Dapiya, Director-General of the Plateau Environmental Protection and Sanitation Agency (PEPSA), said this in an interview with reporters on Friday in Jos.
Dapiya said the inspectors operated under the LGAs’ Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) departments.
Their responsibilities include inspecting homes, markets, restaurants, food vendors, hotels, schools and other public spaces to ensure compliance with environmental health standards, he said.
The officers also inspect sachet water factories, monitor food hygiene practices and issue relevant certifications to ensure compliance with hygiene and safety requirements.
Dapiya said inspectors also monitor waste disposal, particularly to prevent residents and businesses from discharging sewage into public drainage systems.
He said the officers play a critical role in preventing disease by identifying environmental conditions that could contribute to its spread.
Their duties include enforcing daily and monthly sanitation exercises, issuing compliance notices, taking enforcement action and educating residents on proper sanitation practices, he said.
Dapiya said PEPSA had about 160 sanitary inspectors serving in various zones across the Jos-Bukuru metropolis, in addition to those deployed under the WASH departments of the 17 LGAs.
He described the sanitary workforce as grossly inadequate but said the officers continued to carry out their demanding duties despite the staff shortage.
Dapiya said the agency had also introduced targeted interventions to address open defecation, particularly in eight communities in Gyel, Jos South LGA.
The initiative involves working with communities to achieve open-defecation-free status, including helping vulnerable households construct toilets, he said.
Similar sanitation interventions are being implemented in public facilities and restaurants, he added.
Dapiya said PEPSA remained committed to improving the welfare and safety of its workers, particularly those involved in waste management.
Waste managers undergo regular health evaluations, including annual medical examinations, to ensure they are fit for duty, he said. Workers with underlying health conditions are also provided with appropriate care.
He said inspectors were equipped with personal protective equipment to ensure their safety and that waste was transported under appropriate conditions.
Plateau had made considerable progress in environmental sanitation but needed to strengthen its inspection services to meet desired standards, he said.
“Although we have not reached where we want to be as a state, we have made tremendous progress in sanitation.
“Our responsibility is to protect public health and improve the quality of life of residents, and we have continued to witness positive behavioural changes in sanitation practices,” he said.
Dapiya commended Gov. Caleb Mutfwang for supporting the agency through the procurement of vehicles and refurbishment of older ones to improve operational efficiency.
He said the agency also received consistent funding for daily waste evacuation in the Jos-Bukuru metropolis and monthly sanitation exercises.
