The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Mr. Iheanyichukwu Ubani said that a robust plan for desilting of drainages in Abia state is on the way.
Ubani, who was represented in this month environmental clean up by the Director, Pollution Control and Environmental Health, Ministry of Environment, Mr. Ikechukwu Ukaegbu, told newsmen in Umuahia, Abia State shortly after monitoring the month of July sanitation exercise.
Ukaegbu however warned that people who routinely throw household refuse into the gutters and caused the drainage system to get blocked will face the full weight of the law.
He revealed that a monitoring team and mobile court will be instituted to enforce and try defaulters after the ministry must have embarked on aggressive sensitization of the populace to that effect.
He expressed that it has become worrisome how Abians seized the opportunity whenever it rains, to deposit household wastes, which after a while caused flooding as a result of blockage of drainages.
Ukaegbu, maintained that government will no longer condone activities of individuals involved in this disservice to the state, hinting that before the death of late Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Solomon Ogunji, the Ministry had a robust plan of desilting drainages, assuring that the Ministry will resuscitate the move which would go in conformity with the sensitisation of Abians on the need to desist from blocking drainages with refuse.
Speaking on the compliance to the July monthly sanitation exercise, the Director pointed out that their concern in the ministry bothers on operations which centers on making Abians feel the impact of the exercise on regular basis, adding that part of the operations involve cleaning of public spaces and not necessarily about the number of people loitering during the exercise.
