Governor Okowa of Delta State

Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency (DSCTDA) has concluded plans to embark on a door-to-door waste management sensitisation programme in Asaba.

The Head of Environment and Water, DSCITDA, Mr Isaac Nwosu, made the plan known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Asaba on Sunday.

Nwosu said the programme was part of measures to curtail the effect of flooding in Asaba and in line with the agency’s mandate to ensure good environment in the state capital.

He said the agency was aware that one of the ways to check flooding was good waste management but pointed out that the poor handling of waste by the people was a serious challenge.

“We have come to realise that the attitude of indiscriminate disposal of waste is something embedded in the psyche of the people.

“So as an agency saddled with the responsibility of managing the state capital, we have concluded plans to flag off a public sensitisation and effective door to door sensitisation of residents of Asaba on waste management.

“The essence of the sensitisation programme is for the residents of Asaba to understand the menace of indiscriminate dumping of waste and the health hazard it poses to them.

“We will also ensure that the existing sanitation laws in the state are adequately enforced toward ensuring a change of attitude where people will comply with the basic principles of managing waste,’’ he said

Nwosu also said that the state government had been able to make available waste bins in the state capital with 50 per cent of the cost price covered by the state government.

“It is an offence not to own waste bins and non-payment of waste bill. Once enforcement of these laws commences, indiscriminate dumping of refuse and waste will be reduced to the barest minimum in Asaba,’’ he added.