The monthly clean up exercise in Umuahia, the Abia state capital, Saturday, gained momentum with the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba spearheading the drive to encourage adequate complaince and encourage citizens participation.
Ajagba who monitored the exercise in company of some officials of the state government including, the Commissioner for Environment, Philemon Ogbonna,Commissioner for Information and Culture,Prince Okey Kanu, his Women Affairs counterpart, Mrs Blessing Felix and the General Manage ASEPA, Ogbonnia Okereke among others visited parts of Bank road, Aba park, Isi gate axis, Uzuakoli road, Owerri road, Aba road during the exercise.
The team while speaking to residents of the state reiterated the state government’s unwavering commitment to maintaining a clean environment and emphasized that the government is passionate about cleanliness and has taken decisive action by declaring a state of emergency in waste management.
Speaking to Journalists after the exercise,Pastor Caleb Ajagba highlighted the importance of collective action and called on residents to actively participate in the clean-up exercise.
He emphasized that a clean environment is not solely the responsibility of the government but requires the commitment and participation of every citizen adding that by joining hands and working together, residents can create a cleaner and healthier environment.
Ajagba said the state government as part of its comprehensive approach to tackling waste management challenges, declared a state of emergency in waste management, in addition recently inaugurated a dedicated task force mandated to develop and implement strategies that will address waste disposal in the state.
“It has become very important for everyone to be involved whether you are a business man or not. A clean environment would attract investors that is why we are encouraging everybody to come out every last Saturday of the month for the exercise between 7am-10am”.
The Chief of Staff who warned that those caught disposing their waste indiscriminately would be made to face the full weight of the law,advised residents to assist the State Government’s efforts in sustaining the cleanliness of the State capital.
In their separate speeches,the Commissioner for Environment and Urban Renewal, Philemon Ogbonna and the General Manager,ASEPA Ogbonnia Okereke described today’s exercise as “very impressive”, and called on residents to support government’s effort aimed at ensuring a clean environment for all.
The duo advised NURTW and Market Executives to ensure total compliance adding ASEPA trucks are on ground at different locations to cart away refuse generated during the exercise and warned that is is not going to be business as usual as anyone caught flouting government directive would be sanctioned.
On his part,the Commissioner for Information and Culture, Prince Okey Kanu, stated that the Ministry is actively engaging the public to participate in the efforts to maintain cleanliness in Abia.
He said: “we are on the streets to tell the people the need to participate in the exercise and we are doing so by example. We want the practice of cleaning the environment to be sustained in Abia”.
The Commissioner for Trade and Investment, Chimezie Ukegbu, Deputy Chief of staff to the Governor, Chinedu Ekeke, Special Adviser to the Governor on Due Process Dr. Oluebube Chukwu, his counterpart on security, Macdonald Uba among other government officials participated in the exercise.
