Abia Residents Urged To Improve Monthly Sanitation Compliance

Abia State residents have been urged to improve their compliance with the Monthly Sanitation Exercise in the State by ensuring a clean and healthier environment.

The Commissioner for the Ministry of Environment, Mr. Philemon Ogbonna, who made this call on Saturday while addressing newsmen after monitoring the exercise in Umuahia, commended residents who adhered to the exercise and reminded everyone that the clean-up exercise is a shared responsibility.

“It’s a simple order that people should use three hours of the last Saturday of the month to clean their environment. So, if somebody intentionally refuses to comply, what it means is that the person is ready to pay the fine no matter how heavy.

“What we are saying here is that this government is not the primitive type. Dr. Alex’s government is people-friendly. The penalty is not heavy, but they must comply. We have advised, we have warned them. From next week, very strict measures will be taken to make sure their attitude of not complying will be changed,” he said.

On his part, the new Mayor of Umuahia North LGA, Mr. Smart Iheoma, expressed disappointment at the attitude of some traders at Orie-Ugba and Isigate, who were conducting business during the exercise. He urged them to adhere to government policies and directives regarding sanitation. He also appealed to traders blocking access ways to markets to clear the area for easy movement.

“Honestly, I was so disappointed to see that people didn’t comply with the government directive. Issues of cleanliness in our environment should be everybody’s responsibility. So, I find it unhealthy that people will have to be pushed to clean their environment where they live and do business. It’s really discouraging,” Smart said.

Additionally, the House of Assembly Committee Chairman on Environment, Mr. Mba Nwoko, highlighted that monitoring of the exercise would be extended to other parts of the State during next month’s exercise.

THE WHISTLER reports that 110 persons were arrested at various locations and brought before the mobile court in Umuahia for disobeying the government’s directive on restricting movement during the sanitation hours.

Abia Residents Urged To Improve Monthly Sanitation Compliance is first published on The Whistler Newspaper