By Chibuzor Kingsley
The Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency (DCTDA) on Thursday, April 17, prosecuted 18 individuals and corporate entities before a court of competent jurisdiction for various environmental infractions, resulting in 17 convictions, while one defendant was discharged.
The enforcement action, driven by the Director General of the Agency, Patrick Ukah, forms part of sustained measures to strengthen compliance with environmental regulations and promote a cleaner, more orderly Capital Territory.
Among those convicted were Otutu Resources, Nnebisi Road, cited for operating in unsanitary conditions and encroaching on setback areas; Martins I.C., penalised for maintaining dirty premises and similar encroachment; Turner Bakery, found in breach of environmental compliance standards; and the landlord/occupier of Silver House, held liable for discharging untreated wastewater into public drainage systems.
Reacting to the outcome, Ukah reaffirmed the Agency’s resolve to intensify enforcement, warning that defaulters would continue to face prosecution as part of a broader strategy to eliminate environmental violations.
He stressed that the Agency would adopt a zero-tolerance stance, ensuring that individuals and organisations found culpable are subjected to the full extent of the law, as authorities work to restore environmental sanity across the Capital Territory.
Ukah further urged residents, traders, and business operators to adhere strictly to sanitation guidelines and urban regulations, noting that compliance remains essential to avoiding legal consequences and achieving a sustainable environment.
