. . . Set up Joint Task Force against Environmental Defaulters
By Jude Atupulazi
A joint task force against environmental defaulters has been set up by the Anambra State Waste Management Agency, ASWAMA, and the Awka South Local Government Council.
The setting up of this joint task force is in line with ASWAMA’s vision of ensuring a filth free environment through viable partnerships with agencies, groups, institutions, among others.
Speaking during the inauguration of the 20-man task force at Awka South Council Secretariat, Thursday, the Transition Chairman of Awka South, Mr Leo Nwuba, said the task force was created to fight excessive abuse of the environment and to ensure that people learnt to dispose of their waste the right way.
Praising the Managing Director of ASWAMA, Mr Amaechi Akorah, for being a stickler to the maintenance of environmental sanity, Nwuba said the task force was expected to complement the efforts of the Anambra State Government in waste management and disposal by arresting defaulters for prosecution.
He however warned the members of the task force to avoid using their position to intimidate and harass innocent citizens, but only to go after proven defaulters whom they should arrest and bring to the appropriate quarters for prosecution.
The Transition boss said people were expected to put their refuse in receptacles/bins put up for such purpose and warned that those who failed to do that would be deemed to have run foul of the Anambra State Waste Management Law passed by the State Assembly.
Disclosing that the area of operation by the task force was within Awka Capital and environs, Nwuba said the membership of the task force would eventually be increased to forty.
Before inaugurating the task force members, the MD of ASWAMA, Akorah, said defaulters would be made to pay a stipulated fine to be determined by the court, failing which they would be jailed.
Akorah also warned the task force members against using their position to intimidate or witch-hunt others, but to teach people how to live a healthy lifestyle.
He assured them of the support of the Awka South Council, even as he disclosed that a register would be provided to document offenders. He said the Awka South Council would give them orientation.
The highlights of the event were the inauguration of the members of the task force by the MD of ASWAMA, Mr Akorah, and the decoration of the members with vests by the Transition Chairman of Awka South Council, Mr Nwuba.
