The Delta State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting environmental health, public hygiene, and sustainable environmental practices through strategic collaboration with relevant agencies aimed at improving the wellbeing of residents across the state.
The Commissioner for Works (Rural Roads) and Public Information, Mr. Charles Aniagwu, stated this in Asaba during a courtesy visit by the Delta State Coordinator of the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA), Mr. Enoch Anyankpele, and his team.
Aniagwu assured NESREA of the State Government’s readiness to partner with the Agency in publicizing its activities, beginning with media coverage of the courtesy visit and extending to broader public awareness campaigns.
He emphasized that environmental cleanliness remains a critical determinant of public health, noting that every citizen has a responsibility to contribute to a clean and healthy environment.
The Commissioner lamented the poor hygiene practices exhibited by some residents and called for sustained public enlightenment on sanitation and personal hygiene, warning that unhealthy environmental habits often result in disease outbreaks and other health challenges.
“The cleanliness of our environment is a collective responsibility. When people neglect proper sanitation practices, the consequences are not limited to the environment alone; public health is also put at risk,” Aniagwu said.
He stressed that cleaner surroundings translate into healthier families, reduced disease burden, and improved quality of life for communities across the state.
As part of efforts to strengthen collaboration, the Commissioner requested NESREA to provide a strategy document outlining its mandate, operational framework, and planned activities. According to him, the document would facilitate wider stakeholder engagement, including the possibility of convening a joint press conference with the Commissioner for Environment and other relevant stakeholders.
Aniagwu further assured the Agency of the Ministry’s support through the provision of free airtime on state-owned television and radio stations whenever necessary, noting that NESREA’s activities are geared towards public welfare and environmental protection rather than profit-making.
The Commissioner also highlighted the environmental challenges associated with oil exploration and production, observing that Delta State, as an oil-producing state and a major contributor to national revenue, must continue to promote best environmental practices within the extractive industry to safeguard both public health and the ecosystem.
He advocated stricter enforcement of environmental sanitation regulations, noting that penalties for defaulters could serve as an effective deterrent and encourage greater compliance with environmental standards.
According to him, effective enforcement would not only lead to cleaner surroundings but also foster healthier communities and a safer environment for present and future generations.
Earlier, the Delta State Coordinator of NESREA, Mr. Enoch Anyankpele, described the Agency as the enforcement arm of the Federal Ministry of Environment, charged with ensuring compliance with environmental laws and regulations.
He identified low public awareness of environmental laws as one of the major challenges confronting the Agency, noting that enforcement becomes difficult when citizens are unaware of existing regulations.
“It is difficult to enforce laws that people do not know exist. This is why we consider it necessary to partner with the Ministry of Public Information to educate and sensitize residents on environmental issues and the activities of NESREA,” he said.
Anyankpele explained that while public awareness and environmental education remain central to the Agency’s mandate, the State Field Office lacks the resources to undertake extensive sensitization campaigns on its own. He therefore appealed to the State Government to leverage its media platforms to educate citizens on environmental compliance, pollution control, waste management, and other environmental health issues.
He noted that NESREA’s activities in Delta State include environmental compliance monitoring and enforcement, pollution control, public awareness and environmental education, sustainable waste management, stakeholder engagement, and the investigation of environmental complaints.
The meeting underscored the shared commitment of the Delta State Government and NESREA to strengthening environmental governance, protecting public health, and fostering a culture of environmental responsibility among residents across the state.
