From Mark Chukwu, Umuahia
The Abia State Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Philemon Ogbonna, represented by the permanent secretary, Ministry of Environment, Mr. Ikechukwu Oriuwa, has described August Sanitation Exercise as a success.
He made the disclosure shortly while addressing newsmen on the outcome of the exercise at the High Court Complex recently.
According to him, “from my observation, Abians are complying as people can now come out on their own to do clean up without being coerced by us to do it except the parks and the markets”.
Oriuwa said they have got to Eldorado “but at this point, I discovered that the parks and markets are not ready to comply, at Orieugba market”. He said they complied during the last clean up exercise (July). “But this time, they came back to the market, so I think we have to step up and sensitize the markets and parks that is the only area we are having problem”, he added.
“They are complying. So the clean up exercise was a success, except for these few areas we are complaining of”, he said.
The Permanent Secretary disclosed that the security agencies are not helping matters. “The police at CPS and Civil defence,what they do on Sanitation days is to arrest offenders and take them to their barracks.The right thing is when they are arrested, take them to the Basic Environmental Court at the High Court premises for them to be prosecuted in line with Basic environmental laws of Abia State”.
Oriuwa explained that the return to Orieugba market is as a result of the new yam celebration “taking place at the market square as Orieugba is situated at the heart of the village, so the youths were out preparing for their new yam festival”.
Lending his voice, the Chairman House Committee on Environment and member representing Ohafia South State Constituency in Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Kalu Mba Nwoke, maintained that the exercise is progressing. “I also want to condemn the attitude of our uniformed men. Yes, we know that it is said that those on essential duties should move around. If those on road ask you, who are you, tell them who you are when you are not putting on uniform”.
He referred to the case at F.M.C junction where a Civil Defence Officer on mufti inside tricycle was accosted and men on duty from Ministry Environment try to know his indentity,he forced the Keke operator to turn and went and reinforced his men to come and attacked the people enforcing environmental exercise to the extent of tearing the cloth of Abia State security vigilante member stationed at that point. “Government will take up the matter with such erring Officer”
According to him, Abia will definitely get better.
Contributing, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on Environment, Hon. Ijeoma Iheukwumere, disclosed that women are suppose to be in forefront of the clean up, saying that was why she had to talk to them.
“They have to help the government keep the state clean. Abia should be clean. It is not supposed to be a case of every month we will be chasing people around to clean their environment. It is for our own good, it is for the interest of every body”.
