The Abia State Government has enjoined traders in the state to key/cue in to the environmental sanitation transformational initiative geared towards improving the environmental and aesthetic status of the state.
Interacting with newsmen shortly after monitoring the month of February, 2025 environmental sanitation exercise in Umuahia, the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Philemon Asonye Ogbonna, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Ikechukwu Oriuwa, frowned that the major markets visited during the exercise which includes: Orie ugba market and the Isi-gate axis of Umuahia, compliance to the exercise was poor.
He wondered why the traders will leave their houses and come to their various shops/sheds, instead of cleaning up their surroundings, would rather resolve display their products or fold their arms until the time mapped out for the exercise elapses.
He pointed out that the State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti has done well in the environmental cleanliness of the state to make the state wear a clean and green outlook unlike what was obtained in the previous administrations.
He disclosed that the Ministry has also engaged Hoteliers and other management of eateries in the state to discuss on how and the best approach to have a safe and clean drainages, especially within the vicinity of their business areas.
He said that the Ministry might think applying stiffer measures to enforce compliance in the markets in the next exercise, reminding the traders that the State mapped out last Friday morning apart from their routine sanitation to clean up the markets and parks.
Speaking also, Member representing Ohafia South State Constituency and House Committee Chairman on Environment, Hon. Kalu Mba Nwoke, warned interstate transport companies, their drivers and travellers to respect the state’s environmental sanitation law and days of cleanup exercise instead of defaulting.
