Environmental Sanitation: Ogbonna appreciates collaborative effort of NGOs
The Abia State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Philemon Asonye Ogbonna, has appreciated organizations who have been collaborating with the state to ensure an Abia that is clean and green.
Answering questions from newsmen shortly after monitoring the level of compliance in the month of August sanitation exercise in Umuahia, Mr. Ogbonna, lauded the Young African Leaders Initiative, Rotaract Club of Umuahia CB, Green Abia Project, and Umuahia Diamond Club, for supporting the state government’s efforts to keep the environment clean as well encouraged them to continue their good work.
He announced that the government would soon set up a mobile sanitation court at Orie -Ugba market and other defiant areas to prosecute defaulters who trade or engage in activities that contravene the Abia State Sanitation Law.
The Commissioner for Environment frowned at the attitude of traders who continue to trading activities during sanitation exercise .
He however observed great improvement over the exercise and expressed optimism, it would be sustained in line with the vision of the Governor.
His words, “I also want to tell those who are yet to key into this vision that the monthly environmental sanitation exercise has come to stay in Abia and the exercise is not exclusive to a set of people but to all abians “.
Also Speaking, the House Committee Chairman on Environment and Urban Renewal and member representing Ohafia South State Constituency, Hon. Mba Kalu Nwoke called for an amendment to Abia State Sanitation Law to impose stiffer penalties on those conducting business during sanitation exercises.
He described a good environment as a penancea for healthy living and encouraged people to assist government efforts by voluntarily taking part in the monthly sanitation exercise.
About 76 persons who defaulted in the participation of the Abia State monthly environmental sanitation exercise were arrested in Umuahia.
