BY JOSIAH OGOEGBUNEM
The Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency (DSCTDA), in conjunction with the Ministry of Environment, Waste Management Board, and the State Environmental Task Force, yesterday monitored the monthly environmental sanitation exercise in the capital territory.
During the exercise, 214 were arraigned before the mobile courts with 132 convicted and fined, while 20 were convicted and sent to do community services. However, 44 persons were discharged while 18 were cautioned. In a chat with journalists during the exercise, the Director General of the Agency, Chief Patrick Ukah, said he was not impressed with the level of compliance as people were noticed going about their businesses without observing the exercise.
He said it was unfortunate that people are yet to imbibe the culture of keeping their environment clean, but his happiness is that they have been able to enforce it and that is how it would continue in subsequent exercises until people see it as a duty to keep their environment clean. Speaking further, Chief Ukah said the government is not asking for much from Deltans, especially residents of the capital territory, but for them to clean up their surroundings and business premises so that the state would rank among the cleanest states in the country. He said there would be a special sanitation exercise in Spare Parts, Mammy Market, along the Dennis Osadebe Way in Asaba tomorrow Monday 29 2024 from 7 am to 10 am, adding that the agency’s environment unit would monitor and supervise the exercise. The Director General and his team monitored the exercise from the Okpanam Road axis to Abraka, Koka, Summit Junction and Okpanam City Gate. During the exercise, some defaulters were arrested and made to face the Mobile Courts that were set up for the exercise. While some were convicted, others were made to render community services.
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Meanwhile, the Chairman of Ndokwa East Local Government, Chief Vincent Osilonya observed the monthly environmental sanitation exercise.
The exercise was held at Aboh and Ashaka with the sanitation mobile court sitting at Ashaka.
At least eight persons were prosecuted by the presiding magistrate, Nancy Ete Awala.
In an interview with journalists, Chief Osilonya expressed satisfaction towards the exercise, adding that he was not happy with the indiscriminate dumping of refuse at the Ashaka Market. He further said there should be proper sensitization of the people to ensure a neat and healthy environment. On the issue of a permanent dump site and truck, he promised to look into it.
Also present at the exercise was the Commissioner for Primary Education, Dr Kingsley Ashibogwu, who said he was impressed with the attendance and also called on the people to ensure daily clean-up for a healthy environment.
