The Director General of the Warri, Uvwie and Environs Special Area Development Agency, (WUEDA), Hon. Prince Godwin Ejinyere, has charged business owners and residents of Refinery road, Effurun, to clear the drains in front of their shops, offices or houses, to allow free flow of flood water, especially now that the rains have set in.
Prince Ejinyere gave the charge on Monday when he led a team of the Agency’s civil engineers and staff of its Environment Department to revisit the Refinery road area of Effurun towards ensuring compliance with all environment laws, rules and regulations.
Speaking to newsmen after inspecting the area, Prince Ejinyere said the Delta State Executive Council recently frowned at the parking of vehicles by car dealers in front of the Model Technical College, Effurun, and as a result, WUEDA swung into action and removed all such vehicles from the front of the College, urging the Principal, Mr. Mgbolu Anthony, to monitor and ensure the security of the facilities in the College by enforcing strict compliance with government’s order.
On the perennial menace of flood in parts of the Oil City, Prince Ejinyere noted that WUEDA would sustain its efforts at ensuring that business owners and other residents were made to clear their drains for WUEDA to evacuate now, or they de-silt the drains later and evacuate the refuse by themselves.
He said plans were underway to resurface Refinery road and other streets in the Agency’s mandate areas, after all flood and sanitation issues had been settled.
The DG expressed displeasure over two illegal dump sites on Refinery road, close to ShopRite, and the failure of business owners along the road to de-silt the drains in front of their premises, urging them to clear the drains within seven days or face the wrath of the law.
Amongst businesses directed to de-silt the gutters in front of their premises were Joice & Daughter Enterprises; Joma Fish Company where the drainage at its entrance was terribly blocked by concrete; a meat shop near; a cement depot; Hotel De Merris; as well as Denaga Plaza Hotel.
Others were Uzor Furnitures by Aka Avenue, where some structures were built on drainage slabs; Apribet Ventures Ltd; Vivasis Hotel; Monel Bar & Restaurant; and Casa De Pedro Hotels Ltd.
Prince Ejinyere warned all the car dealers on Refinery road, Effurun against parking their vehicles on the walkways to avoid destroying the slabs, and blocking the drains and urged residents to complement Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s efforts at solving the perennial flooding problem in Warri, Effurun and their environs.
The DG had earlier inspected the drains along the DDPA road by the NNPC Junior Staff Club where he instructed that the drains should be de-silted immediately to avoid sanctions. “While Govt is doing its beat, you should do yours by cleaning your surroundings”, Ejinyere asserted.
Violators of environment rules and regulations, despite the Agency’s efforts to enlighten residents on the need for sanity in the environment, were served warning letters stating a time frame for compliance, even as some defaulters had already been sued by the Agency, to serve as a deterrent to others.
SOURCE: Media Dept; WUEDA
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