ASEPA’s Jonah Marks Two Years with Call for Media Partnership to Drive Abia’s Environmental Transformation.
The Deputy General Manager of the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA), Umuahia Zone, Catechist Ambrose Jonah, has called for sustained collaboration with journalists to advance the state’s environmental transformation agenda. He made the appeal during a press briefing marking his two-year anniversary in office.
Speaking to reporters at ASEPA’s Umuahia office, Jonah emphasized the critical role the media plays in driving public awareness and accountability in environmental matters. “We cannot achieve our goals without the media. Journalists are not just stakeholders, they are partners in this vision,” he said.
Jonah’s tenure, which coincides with Governor Alex Otti’s administration, has seen what he describes as “a radical shift” in environmental management in Abia State. Reflecting on the past, he said: “Before Governor Otti took office, Abia was plagued by bad roads and filth. Today, that story is changing and we are part of that change.”
Jonah credited Governor Otti’s declaration of a state of emergency on the environment as a turning point. “Thanks to the governor’s support, ASEPA has received essential equipment, including pay loaders, compactors, caterpillars, roll-off bins, monitoring Keke buses, and Keke pickups,” he noted.
He added that these resources have enabled the agency to improve waste evacuation efforts across the Umuahia zone, with a focus on clearing ancient drainage systems and preventing flood-prone blockages. However, he expressed concern over the persistent habit of indiscriminate dumping of refuse into gutters, describing it as “environmentally dangerous and a direct affront to the governor’s vision.”
Looking ahead, Jonah announced the agency’s plan to introduce a waste bagging initiative aimed at streamlining refuse collection. Residents caught littering will face a ₦20,000 fine and possible prosecution.
“We are working toward a clean and green Abia. Anyone caught violating these rules will be handed over to the police and prosecuted in court,” he said.
ASEPA’s community engagement strategy will include outreach to motor parks, markets, schools, and churches. “We’ll talk directly to people about environmental responsibility, whether they are citizens, residents, or visitors,” Jonah added.
To address inaccessible areas, ASEPA offers a door-to-door waste collection service using tricycle pickups, available twice weekly at a cost of ₦300 per month. Waste disposal bags will be sold for ₦150 each.
In a significant development, Jonah revealed ASEPA’s ongoing efforts to build waste recycling plants in Aba and Umuahia. The goal is to shift from waste disposal to resource recovery, in line with global sustainability trends.
Under Jonah’s leadership, ASEPA appears to be carving out a reputation as a model for environmental reform in Nigeria. With the backing of the state government and active media involvement, the agency is aiming to turn Abia into the cleanest state in the country, a goal Jonah insists is both ambitious and achievable.
“This journey is far from over, but we are on the right track. With continued support from journalists and the public, we will get there,” he concluded.
Director of Information, Mrs. Blessing Ogbonna, and Deputy Director, Mrs. Ebere Ogbuagu, who flanked Jonah during the press briefing, echoed his sentiments. Ogbonna praised journalists for their role in projecting ASEPA’s progress. “Your stories have helped rebrand this agency. We urge you to keep supporting the mission,” she said.
