ENUGU–The All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) gubernatorial candidate in Enugu State, Mr. Frank Nweke Jr, says he will provide clean and safe environment for Enugu people if elected into power in 2023.
Nweke stated this in a statement he made available to newsmen in Enugu recently.
The APGA candidate said he would address the problem of sanitation in the state when he becomes governor.
According to him, he will stop open incineration of waste at Ugwu Onyeama, reclaim and remedy the already contaminated land.
Nweke decried the state of the dumpsite at Ugwu Onyeama, saying it is an open sore.
“It is a shame on Enugu that the first thing that confronts citizens and visitors into our beautiful state capital is this open waste dump, under perpetual incineration with smoke polluting the air and constituting a health hazard to all.
“It directly contaminates the river which flows through the location and the water is consumed downstream,” Nweke lamented.
Nweke stressed that he would turn the waste in the area and other parts of the state into green wealth.
He added that he would resuscitate Enugu State Waste Management Authority (ESWAMA) by appointing competent management for the agency and the public waste collection system through the deployment of the appropriate modern equipment.
According to him, “I will establish a modern waste management and transfer system, a sorting site – properly engineered to avoid pollution and soil contamination, while wastes will not be dumped on the roads or their sides.
Nweke said he will work with the private sector to establish waste to gas and power plants as well as a recycling plants for waste that cannot be converted to power such as plastics.
“I will also embark on a massive public values orientation programme to mobilize citizens to partner with government to clean our state through a 3R campaign of Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.
“I will establish an incentive reward system to encourage communities and neighborhoods to compete to clean our communities and emplace a deliberate policy to protect our environment and green our communities.
“I will mainstream the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in our schools and communities, and a holistic environmental sustainability and sanitation programme into our education curriculum,” he said.
He further explained that he would invest in a comprehensive WASH policy and programmes to ensure that all 17 Local Government Areas in Enugu State are Open Defecation Free (ODF) certified.
Nweke said he will work with stakeholders and the State House of Assembly to enact and implement legislation on climate action, single use plastic, and overall environmental sustainability.
“I will Invest in a strategic and sustainable tree-planting campaign of economic trees to address deforestation and improve Enugu’s economy and environment, and make Enugu one of the top 10 Green and Clean places in Africa,” he said.
