NAN-H-42
Contractors
Abuja, Nov. 19, 2016 (NAN) Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), will prosecute environmental contractors in the territory, who operate without the board`s certification letter, Mrs Omolola Olanipekun, Acting Director of the board, has warned.
She gave the warning on Saturday in Abuja when she received a delegation of estate managers and environmental contractors operating in the FCT.
Olanipekun said the board had the mandate to issue certification letters to environmental contractors to enable them operate legally in the city.
“If we see any unlicensed environmental contractors, we will arrest and take them to our mobile court.
“The only way we can easily arrest them is when the public collaborate with us by assisting us identify contractors who evacuate waste to dumping site.
“When we notice that such contractors are not licensed by the board, we can prosecute them.
“The essence of the prosecution is to promote environmental sanitation and change the negative attitude of the residents towards the environment.
“Collaboration between AEPB and estate managers will also help the board identify their challenges in waste management in order for us to know how to tackle such problems,’’ she said.
The acting director said that the aim of the meeting was to enhance the relationship between the board and the two bodies and promote environmental health for effective service delivery.
She said that the board had realised that there was gap in the relationship between it and the two bodies, adding that such gap needed to be closed.
According to Olanipekun dialoguing with the estates managers and contractors will enhance environmental sanitation in the various estates in the FCT.
She said that AEPB was also collaborating with head of various communities in the territory by educating them on the importance of living in a healthy environment.
She said that the board plans to embark on awareness campaign to public places such as Churches, Mosques, market among others, to ensure that residents of the territory imbibe the habit of cleanliness.
Olanipekun advised the residents to cooperate with the FCT administration by ensuring that Abuja is kept clean.
Mr Vincent Okoro, who spoke on behalf of the estate managers, called on residents of the FCT to obey environmental laws and regulations to enable AEPB achieve its mandate and vision. (NAN)
VOE/AEA/AEA
===========