Delta state ministry of environment has warned the people of the state against open dumping of refuse on road sides, drainages and natural waterways across the state.
The warning was dropped on Thursday by permanent secretary of the ministry, Dr. (Mrs.) Minnie Oseji during the commemoration of the 2023 national environmental sanitation day at Ogbeogonogo market in Asaba, the state capital.
Oseji said the hand of the law will come hard against residents who continue to dump refuse on drainages, road sides and waterways amidst continuous sensitisation by the state ministry of environment against such acts.
While presenting her speech on the theme: “Promoting Sustainable Waste Disposal Management for Health, Stop Open Dumping,” Dr. Oseji said open dumping of wastes has created serious environmental, social and health challenges among the populace.
She also said open dumping of wastes into drainages and natural waterways has aided flooding that resulted in colossal loss of lives and properties.
The permanent secretary added that indiscriminate dumping of refuse on road sides, street corners, median kerbs, undeveloped plots of land and other open spaces has reduced the aesthetic value of the environment.
Arising from this, Dr. Oseji called for behavioural change and attitudinal rebirth to stop open dumping and embrace accredited private sector participants for the management and dispoal of waste in order to enjoy clean, safe and healthy environment.
According to her, the objective of the national environmental sanitation policy is geared towards enshrining and sustaining sound sanitary practice among the citizenry to curtail the scourge of preventable communicable diseases.
In order to block the spread of communicable diseases, Dr. Oseji enjoined Deltans to sort and bag their wastes , register with government accredited private sector participants to dispose their wastes in designated dumpsites approved by the government.
The permanent secretary told the Ogbeogonogo market women that it is compulsory for every household to register with the PSPs for easy disposal of wastes and to maintain a healthy environment.
She lamented that despite efforts being made by the state government through the ministry of environment, she said residents still engage in indiscriminate disposal of wastes on medians and drainages.
She warned those involved to desist from such acts forthwith saying the arm of the law will come hard against them and they may pay more than what they would have paid had they registered with the private sector participants.
