The Deputy General Manager of Abia State Environmental Protection Agency, ASEPA Umuahia zone Catechist Ambrose Jonah has commended members of the *Global Compassion Connectors Nigeria, Young African Leaders initiative Abia Network, members of Rotary and Rotaract Clubs, and the National Association of Nigerian Students, NANS for supporting state government efforts in sustaining the cleanliness of the state.
Catechist Jonah said this at Isi-gate axis of Umuahia, when he received the members of the groups who came with their working tools to participate in the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, and to also sensitize the people on the need to assist the state government in the overall cleanliness of the state.
He described the action of the group who are youths as commendable and worthy of emulation and urged them to sustain the good work.
The group who helped to clean up the isigate axis of Umuahia the state capital equally donated waste baskets to ASEPA in support of the clean Abia initiative of Governor Alex Otti.
Meanwhile, the Abia State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Philemon Ogbonna has frowned that the actions and activities of some security officers are inimical to the State environmental sanitation law.
Mr. Ogbonna who spoke through the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Environment, Lady Joy Maduka, shortly after monitoring the sanitation exercise in Umuahia, told newsmen of an ugly scene that played out, where a security agent who refused to disclose his identity on the time of interrogation, rained abuses on her because she stopped his vehicle to find out why he flouted the sanitation law of no movement during the exercise.
The Commissioner’s representative also observed that some security agents aid some sanitation defaulters by carrying them in their vehicles, while few other security agents mount road blocks during the exercise to extort people especially defaulters.
He urged security agents to help the state government by respecting the sanitation hours.
“We now have a working government in Abia State, that is making sure that the aesthetic value of the state is improved and that the state also wear a clean and green outlook”, he said and advised citizens and residents to support the state Governor, Dr Alex Otti who is willing to keep Abia clean.
Interacting with newsmen also at Orie Ugba market, Umuahia, Mr. Ifeanyi Bob Onuegbu, Councillor representing Urban ward 1 and who is also in charge of the market, disclosed that he provided two tipper for the ease of carting away refuse generated in the market during the exercise.
He expressed joy over the level of compliance and improvement on the exercise.
Also speaking, Mr. Sunday Lewechi, the Chief Taskforce officer in the market, said they were able to record an impressive compliance because they notified the traders on the eve of the exercise.
He described the action of the group who are youths as commendable and worthy of emulation and urged them to sustain the good work.
