The Abia State Government, on Saturday, had meaningful community engagements with various clusters of the Umuahia metropolis during the monthly sanitation exercise in the State.
The State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti had before the cleanup exercise, insisted that every top government official must participate fully in the monthly exercise.
Speaking shortly after monitoring the level of compliance in Umuahia, the State capital, the Commissioner for Environment and Urban Renewal, Mr. Philomen Asonye Ogbonna pointed out that the exercise which runs from 7 am to 10 am on the last Saturday of every month was in line with the Governor’s vision of a clean Abia State.
He warned that going forward, any motor park, market or shopping complex in the State would be sealed up if the occupants of such facilities failed to participate in the environmental sanitation exercise.
On the blocked drainages, Ogbonna disclosed plans to de-silt/open all blocked gutters in the State to allow free flow of flood, especially during the rainy days, which would also help in the prevention of erosion.
The State Chief of Staff, Dr. Caleb Ajagba, who represented Gov. Alex Otti and who also led the members of the Executive Council and other appointees to participate in the cleanup exercise in some parts of Umuahia, said, the essence of leading members of the Governor’s cabinet to take part in the exercise was to mobilize Abians on the need to clean their environment.
While calling on Abians to imbibe the culture of keeping the environment clean at all times, the Governor’s representative, moreover, expressed joy that a lot of people participated in the exercise which was rated as a success, following the number of people who participated.
According to him, it was good to engage the people rather than harassing or coercing them, saying that, that is in line with the principle of inclusiveness of the Otti’s administration.
He however noted that going forward, there would be repercussions for defaulters of the exercise and reminded Abians that the task of rebuilding Abia State is a collective one.
The Governor’s representative who also reminded the citizens and residents that national and foreign investors are not interested in investing their money in dirty cities, noted that Governor Alex Otti was out to change the previous dirty outlook of Umuahia, which made him declare a state of emergency on the filthy environment in Abia, on his assumption of duty.
“We are not here to harass you, but we are here to sensitize you on why you should help the new administration in the State to succeed in the area of cleanliness
By December this year, you people will see and testify about a new Umuahia”, he said.
Speaking respectively, the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu, and the Director General of Abia State Orientation Agency, Pastor Dike Nwankwo described the exercise as impressive, pointing out the need to further create an attitudinal change program, so that people will not be coerced to join in the task of keeping Abia clean.
They urged Abians to join hands with the administration of Dr. Alex Otti to achieve a sustained clean environment.
Contributing, General Manager of Abia State Environmental Protection Agency ASEPA, Mr. Ogbonnia Okereke noted that there has been remarkable improvement in refuse management since the inception of Dr. Otti’s administration and assured that it would be sustained.
The exercise took the government officials to Isigate, Aba Road, Owerri Road, Uzuakoli Road, Azikiwe Road, and Adelabu Street among others.
The Abia State Commissioner For Trade, Commerce, and Industry, Dr. Chimezie Isaac Ukaegbu was also part of the exercise which witnessed an impressive turnout of people.
