Task Force To Compel Sanitation Compliance, Generate Revenue From Forest –Nani

For the sustainability of the cleanliness of its environment, especially by curbing indiscriminate dumping of filth, and ensuring prudent management of forest resources to boost socio-economic development, the Delta State Government has concluded plans to inaugurate two task forces. They are the task force to curb indiscriminate dumping of refuse, littering of sand and waste materials on the roads by tippers and waste trucks and the Forestry Task Force to enforce compliance and generate fund for the state.

The State Commissioner for Environment, Hon. John Nani who made the disclosure recently in Asaba, the state capital, said that the presence of the task forces would not only inject the spirit of compliance, are prudence, but also the culture of cleanliness.

According to him, once the task force saddled with the responsibility to checkmate illegal dumping or littering of filth takes up the stage, the rate of compliance in sanitation laws would be high, because the public would be educated on the benefits of cleanliness, the necessity for patronage of approved Private Sector Participants (PSPs), and the consequence of defaulting with the state sanitation laws.

On the indiscriminate littering of sand on the tarred roads by tippers, he said the task force, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and other law enforcement agents would arrest and prosecute defaulters.

While he condemned the indecent attitude of some tipper drivers who ply the roads without properly covering their loads, and, in the process litter the roads with sand, he also cautioned the PSP drivers who equally ply the road, streets and environment without covering their trucks, are in the process, litter the environment with filth.

The second task force, according to him, would be carved out to pilot effectively activities in forestry to curb illegal felling of trees and to generate fund for the state.

Hon. Nani, while addressing the officers from the State Ministry of Environment across the state, called on them to order and urged them to rise to the challenge like their colleagues in Edo State, to boost the state’s revenue.
Our interviewees, welcomed the idea of inaugurating the task forces, but called for equipping them with work materials for work efficiency.

Mrs. Grace Okeibunor, expressed satisfaction with the idea, adding that the earlier the state government addresses the issue of illegal dumping of filth in the middle of roads, in Asaba, the better for everyone’’.
She particularly condemned the idea of dumping waste at the middle of Nnebisi, Dennis Osedeby and other roads, adding that since the practices of keeping refuse bins for dumping filth at a particular place was no long in vogue, everyone must register with PSPs for easy evacuation of their waste whether in their homes or offices.