Taraba Sanitation Agency Begins Fumigation of Street Flowers to Deter Stray Animals

By Godwin Agia, Jalingo

The Taraba State Environmental and Sanitation Agency has commenced the fumigation of street flowers across the state to deter stray animals from destroying them, warning herders and livestock owners to keep their animals in ranches or risk losing them.

The Chairman of the agency, Hon. Iliya Kefas, disclosed this on Saturday in Jalingo shortly after the monthly environmental sanitation exercise.

He said the agency had obtained approval from the state government to fumigate flowers planted along major roads and public spaces to beautify towns, particularly Jalingo, under the Green Taraba initiative.

Kefas expressed concern that despite repeated appeals earlier in the year urging livestock owners to ranch their animals and prevent them from roaming within the metropolis, stray animals had continued to destroy roadside flowers and obstruct traffic.

He noted that the activities of the animals not only undermine the aesthetic appeal of the state capital but also constitute sanitation and traffic violations, potentially creating unhygienic conditions and endangering the lives of residents.

According to him, the agency had earlier warned that owners of stray animals would face arrest and prosecution. However, it has now commenced fumigation as an additional measure to protect the flowers and sustain the state’s environmental beautification efforts.

“We are currently fumigating the flowers against stray animals to ensure the success of the Green Taraba initiative. The state government has given us approval to carry out this exercise.

“We urge livestock owners to ranch and properly restrict their animals. The chemical we are applying is toxic and harmful if consumed by animals,” Kefas warned.

He added that livestock owners who failed to keep their animals under control would be held responsible for any consequences.

Meanwhile, members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) who participated in the monthly sanitation exercise said they joined to support the government’s efforts to maintain a clean and healthy environment in the state.

Two of the participants, Master Victor Adejo, Corps Liaison Officer for Jalingo Local Government Area, who hails from Sokoto State, and Miss Juggling Anthony, President of Gender and Charity Vanguard, from Kaduna State, commended the agency for providing them with an opportunity to contribute to environmental sanitation.

They urged residents to cooperate with the agency and support ongoing efforts to maintain cleanliness in Jalingo and other major towns across Taraba State.