By Edeniyere Abraham Osose
As part of plans to deepen awareness on the importance of the “Operation Clean Edo” Campaign, the Edo State Waste Management Board (ESWMB) and the Ministry of Environment and Sustainability, on September 6, 2022, commenced an aggressive road show on the best waste management methods to be adopted by residents.
The campaign is in partnership with certified registered private waste managers who are also assisting the State Government to curb indiscriminate dumping of refuse in order to create a clean and serene environment for all.
The road show, which was led by the Head of Advocacy Unit of the Board, Mr. Gregory Osarenren, kicked off from the Museum Ground at Kings Square, Benin City, with members of the team engaging residents across markets, motor parks and on the streets on the dangers of indiscriminate dumping of refuse.
The sensitization became necessary against the backdrop of reports of incessant indiscriminate dumping of refuse at various locations in the State, with markets and drainage facilities as the worst hit.
Addressing journalists during the exercise, Mr. Osarenren said: “The purpose of the road show is to get the general public enlightened on some of the policies that the Edo State Government, through the Ministry of Environment and Sustainability and the Waste Management Board have put in place to assist residents in managing their waste.”
He added that only the registered and certified waste managers in the different zonal areas of the State are allowed to collect waste to government accredited dump sites, emphasizing that the government did not accredit cart pushers access to dump sites. He advised residents to desist from patronizing them because their method of managing waste is illegal.
Similarly, Mr. Gregory informed residents that the Board, alongside its mother Ministry, has set up task forces in strategic locations to arrest anyone found dumping waste indiscriminately in public places and to ensure compliance from residents.
He warned that anyone found violating the directive shall be prosecuted in line with the environmental sanitation law which involves three months imprisonment or will be made to pay a fine of one hundred thousand naira.
Responding to some complaints by residents regarding their waste managers, Mr. Osarenren encouraged them to either call the customer care line or visit their offices to properly tender their issues for effective and efficient resolution to have access to quality waste management services through their respective waste managers.
He appealed to the public to desist from littering the environment with debris, and stressed the need for them to adhere regularly to the proper and government-approved methods of waste collection and evacuation through their respective zonal waste managers.
Others present during the rally were members of the Advocacy Team, Enforcement Team, Health Officers, EDSTMA, Police officers and other stakeholders.
