Waste Managers, otherwise known as Private Sector Participants (PSPs), in the state have been urged to complement the efforts of the relevant government agencies in making a cleaner Delta achievable.
The Asagba of Asaba, His Royal Majesty, Prof Epiphany Azinge, SAN OON; made the call on Monday when a delegation of the Asaba chapter of the Association of Waste Managers (PSPs) paid him a courtesy visit.
Asagba Prof Azinge charged members of the Association to work out modalities that would help to address indiscriminate dumping of refuse, especially in drains and natural waterways, which had become a common feature in Asaba and other urban towns and cities in the state.
He noted that the Otu Ihaza of Asaba was doing a lot to ensure that every part of the capital city, especially Ime Ogbe (heart of the town) was clean at all times, disclosing that the recent Asaba Day celebration featured the award of prizes for environmental cleanliness to the 5 Ogbes (Quarters), with his Ugbomanta Quarters in the last position.
The Monarch stressed that a cleaner Asaba was possible if the Association could work together with the Otu Ihaza to check indiscriminate dumping the refuse and the littering of the streets by residents in the habit of throwing away waste from moving vehicles and tricycles.
His Majesty recalled that back in the days, sanitary inspectors periodically visited homes to enforce cleanliness, present awards to the cleanest houses and sanction violators of environmental laws, emphasizing the need for the relevant authorities to raise a formidable inspection team or taskforce on environmental sanitation
Nna Agu announced plans to engage with all the environmental stakeholders in Asaba with a view to charting a course for a cleaner environment, adding that the community’s environmental sanitation would soon be extended to the satellite towns, to be coordinated by the various Anya Asagbas.
“We love and appreciate a clean environment because we are clean people. As you can see, our Chiefs are dressed in their white attires, and they cannot maintain the purity which this symbolises in a dirty environment. So, there is a lot of work to be done in making Asaba Kingdom clean”, the Asagba said.
He thanked the Waste Managers for the visit and gave the assurances of the Palace to partner with them to achieve set goals.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation and Chairman, Association of Waste Managers (PSPs), Asaba chapter, Mr Samson Osuere, expressed appreciation to the Asagba for the remarkable reforms that had taken place in Asaba since he ascended the throne last year.
Osuere, who wished Asagba Prof Azinge a happy and prosperous new year, thanked the Monarch and the entire people of Asaba for being hospitable to members of the group since they commenced operations in the town.
He highlighted some of the challenges of the Association and solicited Nna Agu’s intervention to enable them operate effectively.
