By Anita Uche- Ugbejie Chukwuma
Delta State Government has carried out the planned Environmental Sanitation Exercise with strict enforcement of environmental laws in Ndokwa East and Ndokwa West Local Government areas of the state.
This was in addition to the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, held today Saturday, June 24, 2023 across the state.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Dr (Mrs) Minnie Oseji, who led a special sanitation team for the exercise to the two Local Governments Areas, said the present administration of the state governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, would not tolerate any negligence of environmental laws, adding that the ministry had stepped up modalities to ensure environmental sustainability of the state.
Dr. Oseji expressed satisfaction with the sanitation compliance of the people in Ndokwa East and Ndokwa West Local Government areas, but condemned the unwholesome attitude of some residents who failed to participate in the exercise after much public enlightenment on it.
She stated further that the idea of the mega sanitation exercise was in line with the continuity of the initiative of the immediate past Commissioner for Environment in the state, Chief Godspower Asiuwhu (JP), who also had led the team for special sanitation exercise to Ughelli, Warri South, Uvwie, Ika South and Ika North East Local Government areas.
Dr. Oseji said there was the need for people to register with private sector participants to evacuate their refuse to the designated dump sites, adding that the ministry would soon embark on an “operation show your receipt.” on such registration in the state.
She maintained that it was the responsibilities of the people to keep their surroundings clean to avoid the transmission of deadly diseases and the menace of rodents and reptiles, adding that the state government could not do it alone.
While commending the Chairmen of the two Local Government councils for mobilising their environmental health and task force departments for the exercise, she advised them to always encourage their people and ensure that every sanitation day was observed in the localities.
Dr. Oseji who also donated refuse baskets to the local governments, stressed the need for proper waste disposal by bagging refuse before disposing such.
At Ndokwa East, an official of the council in charge of environmental issues said compliance to environmental sanitation exercises was always high in the area, adding that there were four points for refuse collection and proper disposal at Ashaka Market, Aboh, Ibrede and Asaba Ase.
Speaking at Ndokwa West, Head of Department of Environment in the council, Dr. Olise Famous, said the coming of officials of the ministry had promoted the exercise greatly in the area, adding that Chairman of the council, Dr. Obi Nzete, was an environmental friendly person and had earlier commenced de-siltation of drains for easy flow of rain water in the area.
Some of the residents in the locality commended the ministry in embarking on the mega exercise, adding that it would continue to encourage them to clean up their surroundings.
The Director of Sanitation Management in the ministry, Mrs Franciscan Antigan, had earlier advised the people to always separate plastic materials from solid wastes for recycling and register with recycling companies to make money from their wastes.
Some defaulters were arrested by the enforcement team and handed over to the special environmental mobile court for prosecution.
