From Mark Chukwu, Umuahia
The May edition of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise in Abia State, has been described as impressive as citizens complied massively.
Making this description shortly after the exercise, Abia Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Philimon Asonye Ogbonna, whose ministry oversees the cleanliness of the state, disclosed that residents of the State came out enmass to participate in the exercise.
Ogbonna at a press briefing at the Abia State High Court Complex, Umuahia said: “My impression was very very impressive. We recorded huge success. Notwithstanding the fact that the state is still in the mood of second year anniversary celebration, people complied.”
An elated Ogbonna noted that due to the fact that the state is in the mood of celebration, the duration for the exercise was brought down to two hours instead of the usual three hours.
The Commissioner was happy that government is teaching the people the culture of making sure that the environment is clean.
He continued that there will be defaulters, adding that such is also an avenue to generate revenue.
“We say let defaulters continue as its also source of revenue, principally the compliance was very high”, he noted.
“The highest room in the world is the room of improvement, we are not there 100 percent but we are recording, on daily basis, success. Our success will be so deepened by the time sanitary inspectors come in fully.
“These are the people that will go house to house, from compound to compound, to make sure that what we are doing gets into the nooks and crannies of Abia State”, he concluded.
Ogbonna disclosed that sanitary inspectors will come on board soonest as arrangements have been concluded with the state Government to put them into use.
Lending his voice, the member for Ohafia State Constituency, and Chairman House Committee on Environment, Hon. Kalu Mba Nwoke also expressed happiness over the outcome of the exercise, saying that it was successful with total compliance.
He noted that “we have to improve on the marketers, the Orie ugba traders are not meant to be in the market on Environmental Sanitation days rather should be in their respective homes, clean their environment and wait for the time to elapse for them to continue their business.
He warned that the environmental team will soon start to arrest them and when this is done they will start to shout and condemn the Government, adding that they should adhere to the environmental laws and stay at home and clean their environment.
Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the Governor on environment, Prof. Ijeoma Iheukwumere, said: “I’m impressed with the level of compliance, saying that today has been a wonderful day as Abia is moving forward and embracing the ew policy.
“We are happy about that in as much as there is need for improvement as we look forward to a better one come next month”, she added.
Also contributing, the Deputy General Manager, ASEPA, Catechist Ambrose Jonah also expressed his joy over the exercise as he stated that people really complied as many were seen de-silting their gutters and packed the dirt
He said that Abians are happy with the Governor’s achievements in the state as they came out enmass to celebrate the Governor as support and to show their love for Dr.Otti.
