Benue State Governor, Rev. Fr. Hyacinth Alia, has directed the conduct of a statewide emergency environmental sanitation exercise on Saturday, June 13, 2026, following recent heavy rainfall and strong winds across the state.

The directive was announced in a statement issued on Friday by the Governor’s Technical Adviser on Media, Chief Solomon Iorpev.

According to the statement, the exercise became necessary after the adverse weather conditions left large amounts of debris in city centres and major towns, posing environmental and public health concerns.

The sanitation exercise is scheduled to take place between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 a.m., with all local government chairmen, relevant government agencies, departments and enforcement officials directed to ensure full compliance.

Residents have been urged to clean their surroundings, clear blocked drainages and dispose of waste properly during the exercise.

Movement will be restricted within the designated period, except for individuals engaged in essential services.

The government also called on residents and authorities in Makurdi, Tarkaa, Gboko, Ushongo and Vandeikya local government areas to pay particular attention to the directive and actively participate in the cleanup exercise.

State officials said the initiative is aimed at restoring environmental cleanliness and preventing potential flooding and health hazards caused by accumulated debris.