The leadership of Ngwa Road Market in Aba has embarked on a major sanitation exercise aimed at transforming the market into one of the cleanest trading hubs in the city.
The market administration, led by Chairman Hon. Munachimso Ejima, popularly known as “Okwuoto,” mobilised workers and equipment on Sunday to evacuate heaps of refuse from gutters and drainage channels along Adazi and Georges roads, as well as other adjoining streets within the market.
Mr. Munachimso Ejima
The exercise, which involved several tipper trucks, was carried out in line with the clean and green environmental policy of Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti.
Speaking during the exercise, Ejima commended the governor for what he described as visionary leadership that has significantly improved environmental sanitation in Aba.
He noted that the market leadership was determined to support the state government’s efforts by maintaining a clean and healthy environment conducive for business activities.
According to him, the goal of the market administration is to make Ahia Ohuru (New Market) the cleanest market in Aba.
“This massive cleanup and desilting of gutters became necessary to remove dirt and refuse that blocked the drainage systems and caused environmental hazards,” Ejima said.
He also appealed to the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) to support the market by providing at least four refuse collection bins to be placed at strategic locations along the affected roads to encourage proper waste disposal.
The chairman further advised traders to desist from dumping refuse into drainage channels, warning that such practices contribute to flooding and environmental degradation.
Ejima disclosed that ten tipper trucks were already engaged in carting away the refuse, while four additional trucks were expected to arrive to ensure the evacuation of the large volume of waste between Sunday and Monday.
Also speaking, the Vice Chairman of the market, Sir Udochukwu Alexander, said traders always express satisfaction whenever such sanitation exercises are carried out.
He stressed the need for sustained sensitization campaigns to encourage traders to adopt proper waste management practices, while also reiterating the call for ASEPA’s intervention in the market.
Similarly, the Zonal Chairman of Georges Road, Mr. Offor Onyeka, revealed that the cleanup exercise is usually conducted twice a year but noted that the volume of refuse increased drastically after the removal of waste bins previously provided by ASEPA.
According to him, the bins were withdrawn following allegations against a waste handler, Mr. Abiola, who was reportedly arrested for collecting illegal levies from traders.
He appealed for the return of the refuse bins to help manage waste effectively in the market.
A trader, Mrs. Ebere Oyigwe, a spice dealer, expressed excitement over the sanitation exercise and commended the market leadership for the initiative.
She pledged the traders’ continued support for the administration and called for the establishment of a task force to identify and sanction shop owners who dump refuse in gutters.
Oyigwe also urged Governor Otti to investigate a substandard structure along Danfodio Road East leading to Ngwa Road Market, which she said obstructs the free flow of drainage and contributes to persistent flooding in the area, particularly around Georges Road.
