Abia State Government say the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, which normally holds every last Saturday of the month would be observed on Saturday, 23rd March , 2024 instead of the last Saturday of March because of the Easter celebration.
To this end, the government required the Mayor of the Local Government Councils, Traditional Rulers, Town Union Leaders, Religious Leaders, Youth and Women Organizations in the State to monitor and sensitize their people on the importance of the exercise and to participate as well.
A press statement released on Tuesday, by Mr. Philemon Asonye Ogbonna, the State Commissioner for Environment, also stated that all markets, motor parks, private and public transport companies as well as business premises would remain closed on Friday 22, March 2024 between the hours of 7am and 9am to carry out their own cleanup exercise.
The release further stipulated that movement of people and vehicles during the period would be restricted except those on essential duties who would be required to present on demand, valid identification or any authentic authorization for such exemption.
The release also warned that defaulters would be arrested and prosecuted in line with the Abia State Basic Environmental Law.
“The general public is hereby informed that the Monthly Sanitation Exercise for the Month of March holds on Saturday March 23, 2024 in Abia State between the hours of 7 am and 10 am.
“The Nigeria Police, Federal Road Safety Corps, the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps are to assemble at their usual places of take off for deployment”, the release partly read.
The Commissioner, who expressed gratitude to the people of Abia for their usual participation in the clean-up exercises, urged them to continue their cooperation with the Abia State Ministry of Environment to ensure that the slogan of Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, that a new Abia is possible, is realized.
