Permanent secretary of the Delta state ministry of environment, Dr. (Mrs.) Minnie Oseji, on Monday commended the residents of Asaba, the Delta state capital over their compliance with directives of the ministry in relation to cleaning their environment on monthly basis.
Arising from this, Dr. Oseji said Asaba is now cleaner than it was many years ago. According to her: ”Asaba residents are very compliant now in such a way that even when sanitation is cancelled, you see them staying away from the streets and those who come out are seen clearing the grasses around their homes, just as we have directed.
“Asaba was much dirtier than it is today. But we know there is room for improvement. We have been carrying out monthly sanitation. What we are doing now is to build on the success we have recorded in awareness creation and the compliance level of Asaba people.
“We have created a lot of awareness on environmental laws. As we continue with our awareness and collaborations with stakeholders, we are going to make Asaba one of the cleanness cities in Nigeria.”
The permanent secretary spoke during a road senstitisation show in commemoration of the World Environment Day with the theme “Solution to Plastic Pollution”. The World Environment Day was established by the United nations General Assembly in 1972.
She told journalists that the celebration was to create awareness and sensitise Asaba residents and neighbouring communities on the need for them to carry their plastic wastes to recycling companies, just as she noted that they will get stipends from the companies.
She said: “Every resident should bag their plastic wastes. Don’t discard them with the general wastes. Separate them from others and send them to places where they can be recycled.”
Answering a question on illegal waste disposals along highways in the city, she said many defaulters have been caught and appropriate sanctions meted on them. She also added their names were published in the media to serve as deterrent to others.
To enforce more compliance level, she said the ministry of environment would work with the private sector participants on “operation show your receipts,” saying every household will be made to show their recent payment receipts as indication that they have been paying their bills for refuse disposals.
