Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, as part of his administration’s commitment towards ensuring the safety and good health of all Deltans has ordered the Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Bar. John Nani to ensure that the blocked drainage along streets and market places are opened to ensure easy flow of water in flood prone areas of the state, as the raining season approaches.
Addressing newsmen during the clean up exercise at Boji-Boji urban market areas on Tuesday, January 16, 2018, the Delta State Task Force Chairman on Environmental Sanitation, Comrade Kingsley Iweka Odiaka thumbed up for Okowa, for his foresight and dedication towards ensuring a healthy environment for all Deltans. According to him, “for the safety and good health of all Deltans, our amiable Governor Okowa has declared Operation Clean Up Your Environment, and we have commenced work in Boji-Boji by opening blocked drainages along Convent Street within the Boji-Boji urban market areas. The work is actually going on well, but I am not happy with the mentality of the traders and the residents of the area who are using the drainage as a dump site. It is not a good thing at all. We cannot continue to live in a dirty environment; we must clean up Boji-Boji, and its environs. People should stop using drainages as dump sites. We should keep our environment clean to make the environment beautiful and healthy for living. The idea of dumping refuse indiscriminately should be put to a stop. Let us all join hands to keep our environment clean.
The Boji-Boji urban market is an eyesore, as a result of pollution. The poisonous smell emanating from some parts of the market promotes ill-health. Majority of the market men and women are trading while seating on heaps of refuse. The situation of sanitation in Boji-Boji urban market is nothing to write home about. Therefore, every child and adult living in Ika land should complement our efforts by ensuring that they keep their environment clean. If there is no approved dump site in your area, please patronize the private waste collectors. One of the SMART agenda of Okowa led administration, stipulates that Delta state must be clean. Be a partner of this course”.
He specially thanked Governor Okowa and Hon. Nani for their efforts towards ensuring cleanliness in the state. He enjoined Deltans to stop indiscriminate dumping of refuse and to patronize private waste collectors, revealing that a fine of 10,000 Naira has been placed for offenders. He equally used the opportunity to congratulate the newly sworn in chairmen, Ika North East and Ika South local government areas, Hon. Barr. Victor Ebonka and Hon. Barr. Victor Okoh. He appealed to them to put in their best in ensuring total sanitation of their constituency, whilst wishing them a successful stay in office.
By Patrick Gbuchanye