EDSG warns against indiscriminate refuse disposal.
The Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability, Arc.Joshua Omokhodion has warned against indiscriminate disposal of refuse and the build up of illegal dump sites in Benin City.
The Commissioner who gave this warning during an inspection to an illegal dumpsite along Federal Government Girls College road at Ugbowo in Benin City, stated that Edo State Government has promised to prioritize the health and wellbeing of its residents as the prosperity of the people is the mantra of the present administration.
Arc. Omokhodion explained that it is the mandate of the Obaseki-led administration to deal with environmental hazards before they degenerate into major health disasters for community dwellers.
During the inspection of the site, the Commissioner decried the deplorable state of the site and pledged to seal up the site in the coming days as an immediate step to deter dumpsters from dumping their refuse.
He described the wastes as toxic and dangerous, while alleging that they might be from the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), as the wastes consisted of used medical items.
On his part, the Controller, Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Edo State, Surveyor J. O. Abu said, the Ministry had made frantic efforts to stop the indiscriminate dumping of refuse on the site, adding that the land belongs to the Federal Government and not UBTH.
The Commissioner further paid a courtesy visit to the management and Staff of UBTH to intimate them on the plans of the Ministry to seal up the illegal dump site and suggest better methods of refuse disposal.
Responding, the Chief Medical Director, Prof. Darlington Obaseki who was represented by the Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee, Prof. Stanley Okugbe denied the allegation that the illegal refuse dump was formed by the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, explaining that the hospital management had been involved in clearing out the dump site over the years, as the hospital realizes the health hazard that such a dump poses to the society.
The Chief Medical Director assured the Commissioner and his team that UBTH will continue to partner with the State Government in it’s fight against indiscriminate disposal of refuse, while emphasizing that the hospital management is in support of the permanent closure of the dumpsite.
