Enforced responsibility II

My head was bowed because I was fully engrossed in reading my WhatsApp messages, so I didn’t hear Asabe’s approaching footsteps till she touched the car door.

‘You know what Bint’ she said as soon as she sat on the passenger seat in front, ‘you are very right about this social responsibility thing. The difference is more than clear, we should do something about it.’ She declared, enigmatically.

‘What difference do you mean?’ I asked, while starting the car again.

‘I mean, when I left this street and walked into the bank, it was like being in an entirely different world. Cool reception hall, clean and shiny marble floors and walls. Lovely indoor plants and well-dressed, corporate looking workers. Indeed it was stepping into a different world. Then thirty minutes later, I walked out of the bank and here I am, back on this dirty street with the rubbish dump taking a sizeable chunk of it. It really doesn’t make sense that these bankers don’t care.’ She concluded.

‘No it doesn’t, but look at it this way, the bankers are part of our larger society. If the rest of the society is ready to accept dirty environment as normal, then the bankers will also do the same; taking care to only keep clean the place where they make a living. You see this is the danger in not waging a serious war against environmental dirt, some people will come to accept it as nothing unusual and therefore not the danger that it is.’ I answered.

‘But where do we start? It seems like a huge thing to do and this issue of writing to the ministry of environment, so it can force banks and other corporate bodies to be responsible for the cleanliness of their surroundings can take time. We have to think of something faster and more effective. We must by-pass government.’ She offered.

‘No, Asabe, we can’t do this without government. I remember being with some journalists the day Arc. Namadi Sambo came to introduce himself as the PDP gubernatorial candidate for Kaduna state. He said, among other things, that in Thailand government pays people to collect their refuse. In other words people are encouraged to keep their surroundings clean by disposing of the refuse themselves and getting paid for doing so. This is how seriously some governments take the issue of environmental hygiene. Therefore we will write to the ministry and while waiting for that to yield fruit, we can write newspaper articles advocating the recruitment of street cleaners and refuse disposal labourers. We must also urge the government to identify refuse dump sites away from town where those labourers can dispose of them in their big trucks. As you can see we need government every step of the way. And you must have notices that every new governor tries to revive environmental sanitation in his early days in office, but soon afterwards he abandons it and the dirt returns. It is because they do not mobilise the people sufficiently enough to appreciate the value of keeping surroundings clean. And this is where we come in. We will buy airtime on radio and be airing some jingles that will inspire people to join the campaign willingly.’ I enthused. ‘Yes, I can see your point Bint And if government accepts our suggestions, it will be a win-win situation all round. Unemployed youths will get jobs as street cleaners and refuse disposal

But where do we start? It seems like a huge thing to do and this issue of writing to the ministry of environment, so it can force banks and other corporate bodies to be responsible for the cleanliness of their surroundings can take time

labourers. Our environments will be clean and beautiful, while infectious diseases, which thrive on these dirt, will all be a thing of the past. Yes Bint, we have to start this project immediately.’ Asabe advised.

‘Indeed we will dear friend, indeed we will, in sha Allah.’ I replied, taking the turn towards her house.