The Bayelsa State Government says dumping of waste into canals and drainages would attract sanctions  as such action is responsible for the continuous flooding being experienced in some areas in the state.
The state commissioner for works and Infrastructure, Engr. Lawrence Erudjakpo who gave the warning during his weekly tour of the projects in the state, particularly cautioned Yenezuegene residents whom he said had turned the natural drains to their dump sites.
“Its only here in Nigeria that people pollutes and  government pays, but elsewhere if you pollute the environment you pay for the pollution and that is one of the principles of sustainable development. I want to advise all Bayelsans to stop dumping refuse into our drainages and our gutters, even our canals because when you do that it makes the state flooded, because once the water doesn’t flow naturally, it will get flooded”.
He also condemned the action of some land developers who built and blocked drainages, saying government would no longer tolerate such acts from the builders, as according to him, ”It is the attitude of our people  not to take responsibility for anything, but wants gov-ernment to take responsibility for everything”.
On the issue of on-going projects in the state, the commissioner said the present administration had completed various projects such as the fly-over, the Azikoro road, the Youths Development Centre at Kaiama among other projects, but attributed the delay in commissioning to the tight schedule of Mr. President whom he said, was working hard for his re-election.
The commissioner however, expressed dis satisfaction over some projects that had not been completed due to unnecessary delays on the part of the contractors, saying everything was being put in place to make sure that all the loose ends were tied.
In his contribution, Mr. John Diepreye Ndiomo, a member of the state council of the Nigerian Labour Congress who was among the team, urged the people of the state to always clear their gutters especially on the day of environmental sanitation.

L-R: President Goodluck Jonathan; pdp gubernatorial candidate for Delta, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa; Deputy Director-General, pdp campaign organisation, Mr Peter Obi and Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta, during President Goodluck Jonathan’s meeting with Anioma group in Asaba on Friday. Photo: NAN