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Eighty nine (89) persons were arrested on Saturday for violating the Abia State Environmental Sanitation Law.
Out of the total number, four persons were discharged on health grounds, 6 were students while 79 were presecuted in line with the Abia State Environmental Sanitation Law.
Addressing newsmen after the exercise, the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Philemon Ogbonna, flanked by the Chairman Umuahia North LGA, Hon. Smart Ihuoma and Special Assistant to Governor Alex Otti on Climate Change and Sustainability, Mrs Esther Ajah, said the attitude and compliance rate is commendable.
He stated that despite people being in the mode of Christmas, the willingness to participate has always been evident, thanking Abians for keying into the plans of the Abia State Government in making the State clean at all times.
The Commissioner, advised Abians not to be carried away by the celebrations, maintaining that keeping their surroundings clean always should be germane than littering it with refuse.
On his part, the Council Chairman, Abia North LGA, Hon. Smart Ihuoma, expressed disaffaction with the level of compliance and participation in the clean-up exercise especially among traders and other classes of people around the Isi gate Umuahia.
He decried that despite having a heart-to-heart discussion with traders, transporters among others at Isi gate, on the need to keep their surroundings clean, they have remained unchanged in their attitude to maintaining a healthy environment.
Hon. Ihuoma said it has become disheartening that Nigerians have continued to imbibe the attitude of wanting to be coerced before they do the right thing , revealing that the law prohibiting people from trading in unauthorized places, will be activated from next week Monday.
He stressed that what they have done is to appeal to those doing businesses at Isi gate to conform to societal standards, as well as educate them that the law is not a respecter of anybody, adding that going forward, the full wrath of the law will descend on anyone found doing business in unauthorized places in the State.
While responding to question on plans to relocate the Isi gate market, Hon. Ihuoma, said it has become pertinent to relocate the market as it is unhealthy for the market to occupy such a strategic location in the state, emphasizing that the State is ready to step on toes to ensure that Isi gate is sanitized looking at the level of deterioration.
He decried the activities of those who collect revenue in Orie Ugba Market and don’t put it to good use geared towards maintaining the market, reiterating that going forward, the State Government will deal decisively with such people who are dragging the State backwards.
Contributing, the Special Assistant to Governor Alex Otti on Climate Change and Sustainability Mrs. Esther Ajah, pointed out that though the level of compliance is not encouraging, the people need to do more to keep their surroundings clean and avert serious health challenges.
She appealed to Abians to desist from acts that contravene environmental standards, noting that for Abia to work very well, people must play their roles in conforming with environmental laws, urging them to pay for waste or revenue when told as well as change their attitude to waste management.
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