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The Abia State Government has expressed displeasure over the poor compliance of residents with the June edition of the Monthly Sanitation Exercise.
The Government said it is particularly concerned that the gains recorded in compliance over the years are beginning to decline.
It warned that it may be compelled to adopt stricter enforcement measures going forward.
Speaking to journalists after the exercise on Saturday, the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Philemon Ogbonna, represented by the Head of Population Control and Environmental Health, Mrs. Happiness Akpulonu, said enforcement may now be the only option.
The Commissioner blamed the low turnout on months of inactivity, noting that this had led to piles of refuse across markets, especially at Orie Ugba Market.
“We were overwhelmed today. My team and I could not clear all the refuse,” he said.
“But going forward, we can do better. I have observed that residents in Umuahia, in particular, respond better to enforcement than advice. So we may have to move from persuasion to enforcement and ensure people do what is expected,” he added.
He urged Local Government Mayors to mobilise residents on clean-up days and support the Ministry’s supervision efforts.
“LGs must also take their routine sanitary inspections seriously and pay more attention to the environment. The Ministry of Environment only carries out spot checks and responds to complaints. We do not conduct routine inspections,” he said.
Also speaking, the member representing Ohafia South in the Abia State House of Assembly and Chairman, House Committee on Environment, Hon. Kalu Mba-Nwoke, linked the low compliance to three months without a clean-up exercise.
He urged Abians to make environmental cleanliness a habit, not just during official sanitation days.
“This is not a one-off exercise. It must be continuous. Even without an official declaration, we should clean our environment as a matter of responsibility,” he said.
Hon. Mba-Nwoke also faulted Access Bank, located on Owerri Road, for failing to clear the drainage in front of its premises.
He called on the state government to hold the bank accountable, and urged the Umuahia Capital Development Agency, UCDA General Manager, to desilt blocked drains.
“What I saw today is not encouraging, but I believe we will improve. The UCDA General Manager must ensure drainage cleaning and desilting are done. From Isi Gate to Shoprite, the gutters and drainages are completely blocked,” he said.
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