Uduaghan Commissions Earth Moving Equipment

ASABA, July 15, (THEWILL) - Delta state Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan yesterday commissioned earth moving equipment worth billions of naira purchased by the state government for the state Direct Labour Agency (DLA) and Waste Management Board.

Commissioning the equipment, the governor threatened to sanction any Local Government Area of the state that fails to adhere to the laws guiding waste management.

He said environmental pollution, oil related waste, failed domestic habits and other emissions caused by indiscriminate dumping of refuse have in the past three years not justified the state’s war on waste management.

According to him, DLA was established to primarily maintain existing roads and address road failures and not to construct new ones.

He explained that it not the responsibility of the government to generate and dispose waste but to manage waste and charge individuals and local government to generate and dispose wastes properly.

While advocating for a Public-Private-Partnership (PPP) in waste management, he pleaded with land owners to avail their lands for the purpose of dump sites, even as he assured them of an infectious free environment.

He said, "Those who disallow their lands from being used as dump site should not be afraid of toxic waste or environmental pollution. The state is capable of taking care of that.

"For the past three years I have not been happy about waste disposal in the state, especially in an area close to the Army Barracks in Warri."

Earlier, Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Bello Orubebe, said the purchase of the bulldozers, pail-loaders and tipper lorries marked the beginning of waste management in the state.

He assured the people that the ministry will put in all it takes to keep the state clean and healthy.

On his part, the Director-General of the DLA, Hon. Ovie Agas said the success recorded so far by DLA was due to the initial stock of equipment which were acquired 10 years ago.