By Eche Nwaobasi
The Anambra State agency in charge of monitoring and enforcement of the state sanitation laws, Ocha Brigade, Tuesday, warned the populace to desist from throwing out wastes from moving vehicles. It also cautioned against indulging in open defecation as well as indiscriminate dumping of refuse.
The agency stated that ‘it is now a serious offence in the state, especially throwing waste out from moving vehicles’, adding that ‘the agency will henceforth arrest and prosecute offenders’.
The brigade stated this in a statement signed by its public relations officer, Mr Agbafine Anthony, on behalf of managing director of the agency, Comrade Celestine Anere.
“Aside these, it is now an offence for Keke operators, shuttle bus drivers as well as all commercial drivers plying the state roads not to carry waste bins as the agency will commence the enforcement of the exercise to ensure a healthy and clean Anambra state,” the statement added.
The agency also made it compulsory for tipper drivers carrying sands, gravels, as well as refuse disposal trucks to cover their products with tarpaulins or risk being arrested and charged to revenue court.
While assuring that the agency would not relent on making sure that Anambra State is clean to complement the vision of Gov Chukwuma Soludo, the brigade stated that all residential buildings, offices, corporate establishments, hotels, kiosks, shops and markets must have two waste bins.
It disclosed that a monitoring device had been installed in the state to monitor everywhere, adding that any one caught throwing out waste from vehicle would be prosecuted.
Said the agency, “Our men have also been directed to visit every premises in the state daily to book any defaulter. We have also set up a special monitoring team with a responsibility of going around all the premises to fish out defaulters.”
