By Nelson Agbajor
The Delta State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Ejiro Jamani, has reinforced the state’s commitment to maintaining a clean and healthy environment by declaring zero tolerance for environmental sanitation offenders. He emphasized that residents must ensure their surroundings are kept neat and clean as part of efforts to promote public health and environmental sustainability.
Mr. Jamani made this declaration during a recent inspection of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise in Oshimili North and South Local Government Areas. He warned that defaulters would face prosecution in mobile courts and expressed disappointment at the lack of participation by some residents in the monthly exercise.
The commissioner was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Dr.Mrs. Mininim Oseji, the Chairman of Oshimili South Local Government Area, Hon. Obi Kelvin Ezenyili, and other key officials, including the Supervising Councillor for Environment in Oshimili North, Christopher Ejoh. Together, they monitored the sanitation activities to ensure compliance and support the state’s efforts.
In Ibusa, however, residents demonstrated significant compliance, with many actively cleaning their surroundings. “I would say compliance here was about 60%. People were working, and we also arrested some defaulters who have been taken to the mobile court,” Mr. Jamani said.
The commissioner warned that the practice of ignoring sanitation duties would no longer be tolerated. “Sanitation is not just a once-a-month activity. Every day should be sanitation day. We will conduct unannounced visits, especially in the Asaba area, to ensure compliance. It’s not going to be business as usual,” he asserted.
He further urged residents to cooperate with the government in fostering a healthy environment, stressing that cleanliness is a collective responsibility. “There have been recent signs of cholera outbreaks, so we must follow environmental guidelines and consistently keep our surroundings clean.”
Mr. Jamani also highlighted inefficiencies in waste management, particularly at the Ugbogonogo market, and called on PSP operators to improve their services. “The PSP operators are not meeting expectations, and this needs to be addressed urgently,” he noted.
The commissioner concluded by reiterating the importance of cultivating a habit of cleanliness, urging residents to take responsibility for maintaining a clean and safe environment.
Nelson Agbajor
A Media Commentator and
Public Affairs Analyst
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