By Chibuzor Kingsley
The Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency (DSCTDA) has intensified its environmental sanitation campaign in Asaba through a partnership with the Entertainers Movement for Oshimili North and South (EMFONS).
The collaboration, which coincided with activities marking Delta State’s 35th anniversary, brought entertainers and environmental officials together for a clean-up exercise covering major parts of the state capital.
The exercise commenced from the Stephen Keshi Stadium and extended through the Government House axis and other strategic locations within Asaba.
Representing the Director-General of DSCTDA, Mr Patrick Ukah, the agency’s Manager, Administration and Finance, Mr K. Vincent Okwofaje, commended EMFONS for joining the sanitation campaign.
Okwofaje described the initiative as a demonstration of corporate social responsibility, noting that the participation of entertainers showed that environmental sanitation was a shared responsibility that required the involvement of all stakeholders.
He said the agency welcomed the partnership and expressed its readiness to support EMFONS in similar initiatives aimed at improving the environment.
Okwofaje urged the group to sustain the campaign and encourage its members and the wider public to embrace responsible environmental practices.
Also speaking, the Head of Environment at DSCTDA, Mr Isaac Nwosu, said the agency would continue to monitor compliance with environmental sanitation regulations across the capital territory.
Nwosu stressed that environmental cleanliness should not be restricted to officially designated sanitation periods, but must become part of the daily lifestyle of residents, traders and business owners.
He disclosed that the agency had recently shut some business premises, including Splendid Decoration and Calabar Kitchen, for allegedly operating while their immediate surroundings were found to be unclean.
The environmental official warned businesses and residents against violating sanitation regulations, adding that the agency would continue to take appropriate enforcement measures against defaulters.
He called for greater public cooperation, saying sustained compliance with environmental standards was essential to achieving a clean, green and healthy capital territory.
In his remarks, a representative of EMFONS said the group joined the exercise to mark Delta State’s 35th anniversary while contributing to the state government’s efforts to improve environmental sanitation in Asaba.
He explained that EMFONS comprises entertainers from Oshimili North and Oshimili South and was established, among other objectives, to promote the welfare of entertainers, strengthen the various entertainment guilds and facilitate the resolution of disputes between artistes and their clients.
The representative commended DSCTDA for supporting the initiative, assuring that EMFONS would continue to collaborate with government agencies on programmes capable of improving the wellbeing and living environment of residents.
The exercise highlights the growing importance of partnerships between government institutions, professional groups and other stakeholders in sustaining environmental sanitation and preserving the aesthetic character of Asaba as Delta State’s capital.
