Environmental Sanitation, Our Collective Responsibility – Asiuwhu

By Tobe Emekekwue

Delta state commissioner for environment, Comrade Godspower Asiuwhu has expressed dissatisfaction with the attitude of Deltans towards sanitation in the state.

Asiuwhu who stated this during an interactive session with members of the Indigenous chapel of the Nigeria union of Journalists, on Monday March 13, said that “when I resumed, I found out that so many persons were not taking sanitation seriously”.

He disclosed omof his efforts to implement the already existing environmental laws of the state which included Thursdays as a sanitation day in Oshimili south local government, also carving out the need for sensitization with regards to sanitation, nothing it is imperative to the understanding of environmental laws by the people and to further divide the burden of sanitization not only to the ministry but also at the local government level.

He stressed on the need to work with the 25 local government councils to overhaul their environmental department while praising the local governments supporting his cause for a proactive environment.

He acknowledged the key role of the Local government council in the process but also pointed out a disregard towards sanitation by the council. “The Ministry is a supervisor in the process of sanitation”, he noted.

According to him, “Sanitation is the responsibility of everyone. As you are aware, environment is our responsibility not only in the ministry, the government, it is the responsibility of all Deltans”

Comrade Godspower Asiuwhu falnked by Journalists of NUJ Indigenous Chapel Asaba

He assured a work in progress policy with the Local government to engage community vigilantes to arrest, punish and fine individuals caught flouting environmental laws and policies.

The commissioner recalled the flooding that affected various parts of the state. He discussed ways in which the state government came into the picture by opening water ways and creating relief funds to assist it victims.

He encouraged on the need to fumigate public spaces and markets against rodents, rats and termites, and warned about a new wave of Lassa fever about to hit the country.

On Tank farms operations in the state, he revealed that majority of the Tank farms closed up due to the effect of the Covid 19 pandemic. He said that the ones still existing, have a cordial relationship with the ministry and they gets monthly reports and briefs from the Tank farms.

Asiuwhu advocated the need for a constructive criticism of government to enable learning from the media, the masses and also for better implementation of laws and policies to encourage sanitation.

He further urged the need for a more robust voters participation during the forthcoming election and endorsed the People Democratic Party’s gubernatorial candidate, Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, stressing on the need for a continuance of the party in the governance of the state and also a continuance of progressive policies in the various sectors of the state.