The Bayelsa State Government has launched Operation Clean Up the State, with the inauguration of a nine-member Environmental Sanitation Authority.
A statement by Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said Chief Robert Enogha has been named chairman of the State Environmental Sanitation Authority, while Asanakpo Lucky, Randy Awolowo, Ibena Salvation, Pereowei Aguruze, Longlife Gilbert, Inidunimi Victor Isaiah, Monday Gamage and Rosemary Endeley Princewill are to serve as members.
While inaugurating the ESA on Friday in Yenagoa, Governor Henry Seriake Dickson charged the members to establish a modern refuse disposal system in addition to a waste recycling plant.
The Governor, who stressed that his administration expects the new leadership of the authority to make a difference in keeping the state, particularly the State capital, Yenagoa clean, urged members to put in place a transparent and foolproof accounting system and revenue collection mechanism.
While calling on the authority to make monthly reports of revenue generated to the government, Dickson noted that, its operations were expected to be a clear departure from what obtained in the past, where the authority engaged unknown agents deploying what he described, as brutal and primitive means of revenue collection.
He said, “We are going to formally look for a day to launch the campaign. Government will support you at the earliest time, as long as feasibilities are right to set up a modern refuse disposal system, including a waste recycling plant.
“Generate public revenue that will be paid into a public account. Those days when people appoint unknown agents and use brutal and primitive means and harassing people to collect revenue are gone.”
The Governor noted that, the operations of the sanitation authority would cover the headquarters of the various local government areas and create the necessary awareness on the need for residents and owners of business premises to key into the government’s vision by cleaning up their environment.
According to him, environmental sanitation and revenue courts would be set up by the State Judiciary to prosecute people, who flout the sanitation laws in the state, towards ensuring the aesthetic beauty of the state capital.
Dickson, who also announced that Mrs. Anthonia Koroye had earlier been transferred to the sanitation authority as Permanent Secretary to handle its administrative affairs, urged her to maintain a minimal administrative and accounting staff.
He said, “Through this authority, we are going to engage a lot of our young men and women, who will be engaged to undertake sanitation duties and who will be engaged on an ad hoc basis.”
In his response, chairman of ESA, Enogha assured the government of the authority’s preparedness to undertake the task assigned to it and promised to surpass the expectations of the government.
