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The Abia State Government has expressed dismay with the activities of Traders at the popular Orie Ugba Market in Umuahia, the State Capital during Monthly Sanitation Exercise, insisting that it will not renege on taking necessary actions to ensure that they conform to Environmental Laws of the State.
The State Government also decried the attitude of residents of World Bank Housing Estate, Umuahia who have blocked drainages, making it difficult for free flow of water especially when it rains.
Addressing Journalists on Saturday after the Monthly Sanitation Exercise for the month of October, The Member representing Ohafia South State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly and House Committee Chairman on Environment, Hon. Kalu Mba Nwoke, said the State Government will no longer tolerate actions that Contravene the State environmental laws, saying there will be heavy sanctions going forward.
He cautioned Traders at Orie Ugba Market, expressing discontent at their attitude of blocking drainages and failing to keep drainages it clean, stressing that amid flood ravaging states, it has become pertinent for them to clean the gutters regularly.
Hon Mba Nwoke lauded traders at Isi gate Umuahia for improved compliance during the exercise while also commending those who have started keying into the saying that “Cleanliness is next to Goodliness”, admitting that more needs to be done.
He also stated that unlike previous sanitation exercise where some Police Personnel at the Umuahia Central Police Station were spotted arresting and taking defaulters to their station, such situation was not experienced today, adding that it points to the fact that the meeting between the Abia Commissioner for Environment, Mr Philemon Ogbonna and the Abia Commissioner of Police, CP Danladi Isa paid off.
Hon. Mba Nwoke urged Abians in general to continue participating in the sanitation exercise, saying spending just three hours cleaning their environment will save them from a whole lot of health issues that might emanate from a dirty environment.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Environment, Mr Philemon Ogbonna, represented by the Director in charge of Ministry of Environment, Rev. Udochukwu Ukachukwu, decried the activities of youths who play football during sanitation exercise.
He called on parents to properly educate their wards on the dangers of their attitudes which is in contravention of the Abia State Environmental Laws.
The Commissioner also expressed worry over the attitude of transporters from States like Akwa Ibom, Imo among others who choose to do their business during sanitation exercise, noting that last Saturdays of every month throughout the country, is observed as sanitation day wondering why they keep flouting this important day.
He called on Abians to continue to keep their surroundings clean by participating in the exercise, stressing that a clean environment is a panacea for healthy leaving.
Correspondent reports that 59 persons were arraigned before the mobile sanitation court in the State Capital.
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