Delta agency arraigns 18 over environmental offences, secures 17 convictions

The Delta State Capital Territory Development Agency (DCTDA) has intensified its environmental enforcement drive, arraigning 18 persons and corporate bodies before a court over various sanitation and environmental offences.

The agency said 17 of the defendants were convicted, while one was discharged.

The recent prosecutions were initiated by the Director General of the agency, Patrick Ukah, as part of ongoing efforts to enforce environmental laws and promote a cleaner, safer, and more orderly Capital Territory.

Among those convicted were Otutu Resources, located on Nnebisi Road, for operating in a dirty environment and trading on the setback; Martins I.C., for maintaining dirty premises and trading on setbacks; Turner Bakery, for non-compliance with environmental requirements; and the landlord/occupier of Silver House, for discharging obnoxious wastewater into public drains.

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Reacting to the court action, Ukah said the agency would sustain the enforcement exercise and ensure that violators of environmental regulations were brought to justice.

He warned that more offenders would be prosecuted as the agency steps up measures to eliminate environmental infractions across the Capital Territory.

According to him, there will be no leniency for individuals or organizations found breaching environmental laws

He stressed that offenders would continue to face the full weight of the law until the city is kept clean.

Ukah reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to enforcing sanitation standards and urban regulations, declaring that the era of disregard for environmental laws was over.

He also urged residents, traders, and business operators to keep their surroundings clean and comply with all environmental requirements to avoid prosecution.