By Abubakar Yunus
The Kano State Government is considering renaming the Kano State Refuse Management and Sanitation Board (REMASAB) as part of efforts to expand its responsibilities beyond conventional refuse management.
The Commissioner for Water Resources, Environment and Climate Change, Dr Dahir Muhammad Hashim, disclosed this during a two-day retreat to review the Kano State Refuse Management and Sanitation Board Law No. 7 of 2003 at BAFRA International Hotel, Kaduna.
The retreat is aimed at reviewing and validating the law to strengthen the board’s legal powers, improve sanitation enforcement and address emerging environmental challenges.
The statement announcing the retreat was signed by REMASAB’s Public Relations Officer, Abubakar Ahmad, on Sunday.
Hashim said existing environmental sanitation laws needed to reflect present-day realities, international best practices and the growing demands of environmental protection.
He also stressed the need for public enlightenment and collective responsibility, saying a cleaner environment could not be achieved by the government alone.
According to him, businesses, communities and individual residents must play active roles in maintaining environmental cleanliness.
The commissioner’s remarks come amid efforts to reposition the board to handle the changing demands of waste management and environmental sanitation in Kano State.
Meanwhile, the member representing Takai Constituency in the Kano State House of Assembly and Chairman of the House Committee on Environment, Musa Ali Kachako, assured REMASAB of the Assembly’s support for the proposed review.
Kachako said the legislature was committed to providing the necessary legislative backing to modernise the law and strengthen the board’s operations.
The Managing Director of REMASAB, Dr Muhammad S. Khalil, described the review as an opportunity to reposition the agency for greater efficiency, innovation and sustainable environmental management.
He said an updated legal framework would strengthen sanitation operations, improve regulatory compliance and promote recycling and resource recovery.
Khalil added that the proposed reforms could also create investment opportunities for private-sector operators in Kano’s waste management industry.
The retreat is expected to produce recommendations on strengthening the board’s statutory mandate, improving enforcement mechanisms and encouraging private-sector participation.
The outcome will also inform efforts to establish a more effective framework for managing environmental sanitation across the state.
The development aligns with the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf’s stated commitment to strengthening public institutions and improving environmental sanitation in Kano.
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