Cleanliness, they say, is next to Godliness. In adherence to this and it’s determination to ensure cleaner environment devoid of waste in unauthorised places in the State Capital and it’s environs, the State Government has declared war on wastes.
This is probably borne out of the realisation that waste management has remained a big problem all over the world.
In Nigeria, waste disposal is principally open dumping, followed by open burning and composting particularly in low income communities. However, these are not without challenges such as inadequate waste collection services, insufficient land, fill capacity and lack of proper disposal facilities resulting in wide spread environmental pollution and health hazards.
Environmental experts say that waste can leak hazardous chemicals into the soil and from there into our food and that is rather unfortunate that Nigerians lacks appropriate waste management infrastructures such as waste collection, treatment and disposal facilities.
According to environmentalists, tackling these challenges require a multi faceted approach that involves improving waste collection services, raising awareness about waste management practices and providing alternative solutions for waste disposal such as community re-cycling programmes or waste to energy initiatives.
Yes, it would appear that many Nigerians are now showing concerns about the waste in the urban and rural areas and about the consequences of the mounting wastes in our cities and villages.
Being a responsive and responsible government, Delta State is not leaving any stone unturned to clear wastes in the State Capital and it’s environs. As a follow up, recently the Board, Management and Staff of the Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency (DSCTDA) went round the State Capital to rid the State Capital of refuse and enhance it’s aesthetics.
The Agency under the close watch of the Director -General, Chief Patrick Ukah mobilised it’s officers to different parts of the city to maintain the gardens located in Asaba and clean up the environment.
Speaking on the issue of cleanliness in the State, the Director -General called on the residents to clean their premises regularly and stop indiscriminate dumping of refuse, saying that the Agency was carrying out the activities through its sweepers and labourers who are equally De-silting the drains
The Agency boss reminded residents of the capital territory to stop the habit of dumping wastes into drainages, warning that those who do so are at the messy of fallen victims of flood as wastes hinder the flow of water and causes damages to the environment.
Chief Ukah, who is the Director -General of the Agency said that Delta State government is very serious about the cleanliness of the Capital City, he said the State government is set to acquire a new dump site to ease refuse disposal, adding that it was part of the decisions taken during a meeting of environmental stakeholders committee, headed by the Director -General of the Agency.
He said the committee was set up to ensure compliance with the directives given by the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sherrif Obirevwori that all wastes in an unauthorized places in the state capital be collected and disposed within seven days. Members of the committee, he disclosed are the Commissioner for environment, Chairman of the State Waste management Board, Chairman of the State Task Force on Environment and Head of the Committee on Beautification.
Chief Ukah said that the two proposed dump sites have been inspected by members of the Committee with a view to acquiring one to reduce the pressure on the existing dump site, adding that palliative works have started at the site and that members of the committee are working round the clock to evacuate wastes in unauthorized places in the State Capital and its environs.
In the same vein, Chief Ukah disclosed that environmental officers of the Agency have also been mobilised and directed to intensify efforts to ensure that the capital city is kept clean and for residents to also observe all sanitation laws at all times
He also said that the Agency and the State Task Force on Environment are to begin night monitoring aimed at apprehending inhabitants who dump their wastes on streets medians at night and advised residents to stop deliberate dumping of refuse and trash bags into drains particularly at nights as it has been observed that it is mostly done at nights. He stated that these illegal dumps, block the drains and help to aid flooding when it comes, adding that officials of the Agency have been directed to monitor their activities and that defaulters will be apprehended and prosecuted.
The Director -General urged residents of the Capital Territory to kindly adhere to good hygiene by using the refuse bins and also to register with the PSPs refuse collectors.
Truth is that cleanliness of the State is the responsibility of everybody and the populace. Thanks to the Asaba Territory Agency for the good job the Agency is doing to help keep Asaba and Delta in general clean. When Asaba is clean, it means the State is clean.
Some residents of the State Capital Territory who spoke on the matter praised the State government on its wisdom and initiative to make Asaba and environs cleaner and urged them to do more as the area is not as clean as it is supposed to be. “ It is good the government is trying, it is good the Agency and other bodies are trying but the residents want to see more”, they said.
They said the government can do more and that Deltans are clean and law abiding people and need to be guided and directed by the Agencies concerned.
One of the resident who prefers anonymousity said that one of the problems they are facing is how and where to dispose the wastes, explaining that that is why they dump the refuse any how and anywhere and urged the government to procure enough dump sites and also to make them accessible.
It is good a thing that many parts of the city are wearing new looks to the joy of everybody. We therefore, call for it’s sustainability as that would guarantee the beauty of the city and enhance the health of the people to fit into the adage that Cleanliness is Next to Godliness.
