Two women have been sentenced to three days community services and three days intensive sensitization over indiscriminate dumping of refuse in public places.

The women namely, Mrs. Zainab Habib and Mrs. Goodness Samuel were apprehended at about 9:45 pm on Wednesday while dumping refuse along Akpakpava by King Square, Benin City.

While reacting to the court ruling at the Judiciary Area Customary Court at Forestry in Benin City, the Commissioner for Environment, Engr. Jonathan Lawani, urged the people to desist from dumping of waste indiscriminately, stressing that enforcement team set up and strategically positioned to monitor every area in the major City apprehended the women and put them in the police custody for trial.

Engr. Lawani said the women pleaded guilty during the court process and were sentenced to three days community services each and they are also to do a sensitization exercise to the public after the clean-up exercise from 7am to 9am.

According to the Commissioner, ‘we have observed that despite all the effort of the Governor Obaseki-led Administration to make the State clean and healthy for Edo residents, many people are still dumping indiscriminately in the city making people to feel the Government is not working’.

On his part, the General Manager of Waste Management Board, Mr. Osadebamen Charles Imariagbe, applauded the ruling by the Court, adding that it will help to checkmate the incessant indiscriminate dumping of waste and also serve as a deterrent to others who would want to continue in the act.

Mr. Imariagbe noted that despite the advocacy and sensitization, many residents still find it difficult to desist from such act, adding that the Ministry and the Board in collaboration with the Local Government have been given the mandate to ensure the State is clean and healthy for all of us, therefore the general public should cooperate with them to make the State clean and attractive to others.