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Abia State Government has frowned at the attitude of some security outfits and their men in the State who frustrate the efforts of the State government at ensuring defaulters are properly tried in accordance with the Abia State Basic Environmental Laws.
The Government also reminded these outfits that there is in existence, the Abia Basic Environmental Sanitation Law, saying that defaulters caught violating the exercise should be handed over to the Sanitation Mobile Court where they are to be tried in accordance with provisions of the law.
Reacting on Saturday to an incident that occurred during the exercise, which involved a personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and the Vigilante outfit, the Commissioner, Ministry of Environment, Mr. Philemon Ogbonna, represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Ikechukwu Oriuwa, advised security agencies in the State to assist the State in maintaining clean environment.
He noted that several appeals have been made to these agencies on the need to desist from detaining defaulters and allegedly extorting them, reiterating that they were violating the environmental laws through their actions.
Southeastposts reports that during the Sanitation Exercise for the month of August, there was a sordid scene, when a personnel of the NSCDC on murfty, engaged in an altercation with men of the State vigilante service at FMC junction. The said personnel, left the scene, re-enforced with his colleagues, and attacked men of the State Vigilante Services.
The incident nearly resulted in serious fight, but the swift intervention of the Abia State Harmonized Task Force (ASHTF) with a combined team of Army, Police, Immigration and others prevented the issue from degenerating.
Meanwhile, giving his assessment of the exercise, the Commissioner for Environment expressed satisfaction with the compliance rate recorded during the exercise but warned traders at various markets in the State to comply as the State is looking forward to getting to that level where Abians won’t be coerced to carry out Sanitation Exercise.
On his part, the member representing Ohafia South State Constituency and House Committee Chairman on Environment, Hon. Kalu Mba-Nwoke, also faulted the attitude of men of the NSCDC stationed towards Golden Guinea Breweries, reminding them that they are supposed to complement the efforts of the State Government and should not act in a manner that portrays betrayal.
He added that no matter the person involved, if one is caught violating environmental laws, courtesy demands that the person introduces himself, saying that the incident involving the NSCDC and the Vigilante was avoidable if the personnel of the NSCDC had introduced himself appropriately.
Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to Governor Alex Otti on Environment, Prof. Ijeoma Iheukwumere, decried the attitude of market women during sanitation exercise. She reminded them that they should be at the forefront, calling on them to change their attitude.
She also appealed to the youth population to fully deploy their energy during the exercise to maintain a clean environment rather than engaging in unfruitful ventures during the exercise.
Southeastposts reports that out of 63 defaulters, 10 persons were pardoned on health grounds, age bracket among others, while a total of 53 people were prosecuted in line with the Abia State Basic Environmental Law.
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