He would demand to see a white piece of cloth which each household must possess. This white piece of cloth was used in tying the mouth of the pots before water drawn from the well was poured into the pots. The cloth prevented dirt and dead insects from entering the pot along with the water. The Dubagari as he was popularly known in Hausa, would ensure that the mouth of the well itself was built above ground level to prevent running water from entering it and must also be provided with a proper cover.

The next place of call while still in a house was the toilet and the bath areas. Pit or bucket latrines must always be covered when not in use and the premises kept clean always. If there were lapses he would advise the household to correct or improve before the next inspection which could be sooner than later. He would commend members of a household who had maintained a high standard of sanitation. While on the streets, he would inspect blocked drainage systems and order his men to apply insecticides in gutter or streams in order to prevent mosquitoes from settling and breeding in them.

From time to time the dubagari also visited market places. Traders were forced to keep the frontage of their shops and premises clean. Some other days the port of call was the abattoir. There he would inspect animals to be slaughtered to ensure they were healthy. Those in bad condition were excluded. He would inspect the premises of the abattoir and forced some cleaning to be carried out where necessary. Those were the colonial days when people were disciplined and co-operated with constituted authority. The sanitary inspector then was as visible as a policemen on patrol. Every homeowner kept his house and premises clean in order to avoid the wrath of the dubagari who could visit one’s house any day without notice.

Nowadays, the situation is different. Despite our resources, enlightenment, high level of education, high level of civility and better understanding of health hazards, we are still being taught how to maintain environmental sanitation. We have had War Against Indiscipline (WAI) with monthly sanitation exercises. Presently, the new government through National Orientation Agency (NOA) organizes sanitation exercises in some states. Alas! Visit major streets in a state in the country, you will be shocked and ashamed because of the heaps of refuse you would see dumped on the streets, in front of residences and shops. One should also not be surprised to see owners of expensive cars eating banana or oranges and throwing the peels on the streets through the window as they drive along. Passengers in buses, taxis and labourers riding in tippers do the same. Some children and some adults eat sugar cane and throw the rubbish as they walk along the streets. The exception perhaps is Abuja (FCT).

Recalling the activities of sanitary inspectors in the fifties once again. There was a sanitary inspector in Jos popularly known as Dubagari Farin Wata. He always appeared in his uniform made of khaki jacket and trousers, white shirt, black tie, black shoes and a helmet to match. He was efficient, effective and dedicated to his job. He was a household name in Jos. He was loved and feared. The lazy and stubborn people who could not maintain cleanliness in their houses feared the wrath of Dubagari Farin Wata if he happened to visit their homes.

Dubagari Farin Wata retired from service long time ago. I met him in Sokoto in 1988 when an agency of state government responsible for sanitation, employed him on a contract to assist in the governmental sanitation sector. Where is he now? Can’t the state governments revisit the dubagari phenomenon in order to teach the importance of environmental sanitation to our people? The dubagari of yester years was an employee of the then Native Authority administration!

MOHAMMED resides at C 16 Rimi Drive, U/Rimi GRA, Kaduna.