Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency, DSCTDA, has threatened to prosecute landlords and business owners who disobey sanitation laws.
A statement signed by the Director General, DSCTDA, Hon. Patrick Ukah, revealed that the agency has secured the services of mobile courts in accordance with the provisions of the law to prosecute defaulters.
According to the DG, five environmental mobile courts have been assigned to the agency to sit in Asaba, Okpanam/Issele-Azagba, Ibusa, Okwe and Ugbolu respectively and the Agency has done all necessary formalities with all the magistrates to the five mobile courts.
He further stated that the magistrate at Okpanam mobile court would soon commence prosecution of landlords, occupiers and business owners of premises that contravene the sanitation laws.
He said the agency has commenced the inspection of all residential and business premises within the capital territory and its environs.
“Residents and business owners should desist from dumping refuse on the road median as the agency has put plans in motion to arrest and prosecute anyone caught dropping refuse on the road median within the capital territory.
“Residents, traders, business owners, ‘keke’ drivers and other critical stakeholders should cooperate with the inspection/enforcement teams as it is going to be a continuous exercise towards the environmental sustainability of the state capital and its environs.
“The continuous inspection exercise which has since commenced from the Midwifery areas of Okpanam and NTA Road area of Asaba, is spreading to other areas of Asaba, Okpanam, Ibusa, Okwe, Ugbolu and other settlements in the capital territory,” Ukiah said.
He recalled that a seven-day reminder notice was earlier issued, which was sequel to the 21 days’ notice earlier issued to residents, landlords and business owners in the capital territory to clean their surroundings which has also expired.
This was followed by street to street, house to house, public sensitization announcement across the major towns in Asaba, Okpanam, Ibusa, Okwe and Ugbolu.
Furthermore, a radio programme themed : “Delta State Capital Territory This Week” was launched in selected radio stations in the state to sensitise and educate residents in the capital territory on environmental sanitation best practices.