BY JOSIAH OGOEGBUNEM
The Permanent Secretary, Delta State Ministry of Environment, Dr (Mrs) Minnie Oseji has cautioned Deltans and residents in the state on the importance of keeping their environment clean at all times and to desist from urinating and defecating in open places.
The Permanent Secretary gave the warning when she led some of the staff of the ministry together with members of the state Task Force on Environment and the State Capital Territory Development Agency (DSCTDA) to enforce environmental laws in the state.
Oseji said that notices were served to all hotels, business premises and residential homes that were noticed to have violated environmental laws and regulations in the capital territory, adding that the enforcement was to prosecute those who did not heed the warning, to serve as a deterrent to others. The enforcement team, which combed the state capital, including the Akwuofor area of Koka, Ibusa Junction, Abraka and some hotels, residential houses, and business premises, made some arrests. Those arrested during the enforcement exercise were taken to the State Magistrate Court, on the Ibusa Road in Asaba for prosecution. Oseji said there are several penalty fees for defaulters ranging from N5,000 to N20,000 for individuals and N100,000 for corporate bodies, adding that the publication was made in The Pointer on February 11, 2022, with categories of offences and penalties listed. She further said no one should claim ignorance of the law to violate environmental sanitation laws, revealing that the fines awee paid into government accounts for purposes of accountability and transparency.
