Ochonogor Cautions Against Disposal Of Refuse On Water Channels

The Managing Director/CEO, Delta State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission, DESOPADEC, Chief Festus Ochonogor has called on residents of Warri to desist from building and dumping refuse on water channels, stating that the activities of individuals and companies in dumping refuse on water channels has contributed largely to the blockage of water channels in Warri.

He made the call Thursday July 24 in Warri while addressing the media at the commencement of the desilting of Okere road to Esisi road canals by DESOPADEC in conjunction with the Ministry of Environment.

"The Commission has been at the forefront of desilting of canals and blocked drainages in our mandate areas for the past few years and with the prediction of NIMET this year on the impending flooding in various flood prone States in Nigeria including Delta State, His Excellency Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has given us directives to intervene with a view to mitigating the impending flood," he said.

Speaking further, Chief Ochonogor said that the scope of the intervention will include several communities in the Commission’s mandate areas namely Warri, Ughelli, Agbor, Kwale, Osubi, Sapele, Ashaka, Aboh and others.

"We are going to intervene in the flood prone areas in the mandate communities. We have flagged off today in Warri. We shall proceed to other places like Ozoro, Oleh, Kwale, Osubi, Jesse, Sapele amongst others,” he stated further.

Also speaking, the Executive Director Projects, EDP, DESOPADEC, Olorogun Dr. Ebenezer Okorodudu called on residents to avoid indiscriminate dumping of refuse and out right blockage of the water channels, stating that the human factors of deliberately building and dumping refuse on the water ways has contributed immensely to the perennial flooding in our communities.

"I am appealing to our people to avoid this deliberate act. That the Governor has given us the go ahead to intervene notwithstanding, people should adhere strictly to environmental regulations by disposing their waste at the designated points and not on water channels or drainages," he said.

Dr. Okorodudu further called on various Local Government Councils to intensify measures to discourage residents from engaging in the act of environmental degradation and pollution.

Some residents in Okere road who spoke with DESOPADEC Media commended and applauded His Excellency Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori and the Board of DESOPADEC for the proactive intervention, noting that the exercise will definitely ameliorate the plight of residents especially during the peak period of rain in September.

Mrs. Jane Jacobs, a shop owner near the Okere road bridge said, "We are very happy for this intervention. We thank Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and the Board of DESOPADEC for this laudable job. We are sure now that we are not going to suffer the devastation we experienced last year. May God bless them.”

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