By Evelyn Unuigbe
The commissioner for Environment and Sustainability, Engr. Jonathan Lawani has charged residents in the State to keep their environment clean and collaborate with the Government to ensure that the State is among the cleanest in the country.
Lawani gave the charge when he led a team comprising staff of the ministry, environmental health officers from Oredo Local Government Council, security personnel and officials of the Peace Corp of Nigeria as well as journalists to the Airport Road axis of the Benin Metropolis.
According to the Commissioner, the reason for the inspection was to ascertain the level of compliance by residents who had earlier been served abatement notices.
Lawani stressed that the State Government will no longer tolerate indiscriminate dumping of refuse by residents and urged them to always package their waste for easy evacuation and to also patronize the services of accredited waste managers.
He appealed to the residents not to dump refuse in the gullies and drainages as the dry season approaches, adding that this act will block drains and cause flooding.
He requested commercial vehicle drivers to provide waste bins in their vehicles and informed them that Government is putting measures in place to provide waste bins at strategic locations in the Benin Metropolis.
In his remarks, the General Manager, Edo State Waste Management Board, Mr Charles Imarhiagbe, said that despite a series of sensitization programs, residents still refuse to comply with the environmental laws.
He, however, warned the residents to desist from the act as the ongoing enforcement exercise will be sustained.
Imarhiagbe urged residents to report anyone dumping waste indiscriminately to the nearest security post or call the following numbers: 08101670790 or 08109670791 for arrest and prosecution according to the Extant Laws on Environment.
On his part, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mr Joel Edionwe, said a clean city attracts tourists that will boost the State’s economy hence the need to keep the city clean always.
Mr Edionwe added that the Ministry is collaborating with the Ministry of Physical Planning, Housing, Urban and Regional Development and security agencies to invade marketplaces at odd hours to apprehend persons dumping refuse illegally as well as persons trading on the streets.
