By SEKYEN WALSHAK
The Plateau Environmental Protection and Sanitation Agency, PEPSA, has given some restaurant operators in Jos a final ultimatum to comply with directives on wastewater management or face sanctions under environmental laws.
The warning followed a recent inspection of selected restaurants that had earlier been served abatement notices over improper wastewater disposal and poor drainage management.
In a statement signed by the Director of Administration, Izang D. Pate, the agency said the inspection covered two restaurants in Rayfield, one around Old Airport Junction and another along Beach Road.
According to the statement, the restaurants at Old Airport Junction and Beach Road had made significant progress towards compliance, with the construction of soakaway pits and other wastewater management facilities already underway.
However, the two restaurants in Rayfield were found to have failed to comply with the directives previously issued by the agency.
Pate said the affected establishments had been directed to construct properly designed soakaway pits with covered slabs to ensure the safe collection and disposal of wastewater in line with approved environmental standards.
He warned that improper wastewater disposal could contaminate surrounding areas, block drainage channels, create offensive odours and provide breeding grounds for disease-carrying organisms.
“These conditions threaten the health of customers, workers, and the wider community and are unacceptable under existing environmental regulations,” the statement said.
PEPSA urged the affected premises to take advantage of the remaining period provided in their abatement notices to fully comply with the directives.
“PEPSA will not hesitate to apply the full weight of the law against any premises that continues to operate in defiance of lawful directives,” the statement added.
The agency described the notice as a final reminder and warned that continued non-compliance would attract enforcement measures as provided under relevant environmental sanitation laws.