.. sets up mobile courts for trial of offenders
Emmanuel Abi Couson
Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency (DSCTDA) has gone tough with the commencement of inspection of all residential and business premises within the state Capital Territory and its environs in a view of ensuring a clean Delta state.
Consequently, owners of houses and business premises found wanting would be prosecuted at the mobile courts in accordance with the provisions of the state law.
Director General of the agency Mr Patrick Ukah, in a statement made available to newsmen stated that the inspection exercise which commenced on 16th of January, 2024 from the Midwifery areas of Okpanam and NTA Road area of Asaba, shall be a continuous exercise spreading to other areas of Asaba, Okpanam, Ibusa, Okwe, Ugbolu and other settlements in the capital territory.
The statement also emphasized that a seven days’ reminder notice was earlier issued on 2nd of January, 2024, which was sequel to the twenty-one days’ notice earlier issued to residents, landlords and business owners in the capital territory to clean their surroundings which expired on the 18th of November, 2023
This was followed by street-to-street, house-to-house, public sensitization announcements across the major towns in Asaba, Okpanam, Ibusa, Okwe and Ugbolu.
In addition, the statement recalled that the Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency on Thursday, November, 30th 2023 embarked on a road show tagged: ‘Secure, Clean and Green Capital Territory in line with the MORE Agenda of His Excellency, Rt Hon. (Elder) Sheriff Oborevwori’.
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.
The statement further added that five Environmental Mobile Courts have been assigned to the Delta State Capital Territory Development 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.
Likewise Magistrate at Okpanam Mobile Court will commence prosecution of landlords, occupiers and business owners of premises that contravene the sanitation laws from Wednesday 31st January 2024.
The statement also stated that 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.
Advising residents, traders, business owners, Keke drivers and other critical stakeholders to cooperate with the inspection/enforcement teams ; the statement added that it is going to be a continuous exercise towards the environmental sustainability of the state capital and its environs.
