Ban on planting of maize, tall crops in residential areas still in force, says PEPSA GM

Christopher Batai, the General Manager, Plateau State Environmental Protection and Sanitation Agency (PEPSA) has said that the law banning the planting of maize and tall crops in residential areas was still in force.

He said on Monday in Jos that tall crops in residential areas served as breeding sites for vectors such as mosquitoes and rodents like rats.

“With the commencement of the rains, we have discovered that people have started clearing the little spaces in their compounds to start planting,” he said.

“PEPSA is advising the public to desist from planting tall crops in their compounds and in residential areas as the law prohibiting the act is still in full force and the Agency will prosecute defaulters.”

He further cautioned residents within Jos-Bukuru metropolis to desist from the act of dumping waste in the drains, and from building along waterways as the acts posed health threat and could lead to floods.

The Agency boss said “human activities such as building of houses along waterways, building of houses very close to river banks, dumping of waste in drains,  erection of houses with no drains or very poor drains are major factors that can cause flooding on the Plateau.

“Aside the flood threat caused by the dumping of waste in drains, it also posed health threat as it serves as breeding ground for rodents such as rats that cause Lassa fever, and vectors such as mosquitoes and house flies that cause malaria and cholera.”

He advised the public to ensure that they maintained good sanitary conditions in their environments.