Delta State Ministry of Environment has commenced the fumigation, deratisation and larviciding of residences of senior government officials to checkmate pests and infestation by vectors in Asaba, the state capital.
The Chief Scientific Officer in the Sanitation and Waste Management Department in the ministry, Mr. Sylvester Ofuyekpone, said the exercise would run through Saturday and Sunday.
Mr. Ofuyekpone11 told newsmen that the ministry had fumigated, deratised and larvicided the legislators quarters along Okpanam Road and the Fine Home Estate along Summit Road in the capital territory.
“We did deratisation and broadcasting of anti-repellants of vectors at the Legislators Quarters to combat pests and vectors, especially rodents, snakes and scorpions.
“On Saturday and Sunday, we carried out fumigation and larviciding. We went into the toilet and treated same against cockroaches and fumigated the houses and their entire surroundings.
“What we are doing right now is outdoor exercise of fumigation of pests and vectors. It is aimed at eliminating or combating pests and vectors infestations of the entire environment.
“So far, we have fumigated residence of legislators and the Fine Home Estate. Next week, effect from Monday we will go to the Commissioners , Permanent Secretaries, Chief of Staff and SSG quarters for same exercise,” Ofuyekpone said.
Mr. Ofuyekpone added that the exercise was aimed at ensuring a healthy, clean and safe environment, saying that pests could transmit diseases that could be harmful to human existence.
“We want to bring them to the barest minimum. We know nature has a way of bringing them up, as such, we are also working to combat them. This is not a one-off exercise you do and forget. It will be a routine exercise which will be done in every quarter of the year. If the pests are too much in the system, they would constitute health hazards. So, we always look for ways of reducing them,” he stressed.
Responding to a question on what causes pests and vectors infestation, he said their presence was a result of dirty and bushy environment, poor waste disposal system and stagnant water in homes and surroundings.
He explained that such unhealthy attitudes could trigger rats, snakes, rodents and mosquitoes breeding in homes, adding that people should keep their surroundings clean and devoid of stagnant water to reduce the presence of pests and the vectors.
