Following the state of emergency declared by the Abia state Governor Okezie Ikpeazu on Waste Management and disposal, the Waste Management Intervention Team led by the Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Chris Ezem and a Commissioner designate, Dr. Aham Uko have swung into action,clearing heaps of refuse in Umuahia township and its environs. National Ambassador reporter who visited the sites observed that ASEPA receptacles within Umuwaya road,Isigate axis and Ubakala street have been cleared by the waste management team. Recall that Governor Ikpeazu had on Saturday relieved the former General Manager of ASEPA, Mr Okechukwu Apugo of his duty over poor sanitation in the state capital and directed the Secretary to the State Government, Barr. Chris Ezem and Dr. Aham Uko to handle the waste management in Umuahia on the interim. Speaking to Journalists at one of the clearing sites at Umuwaya Road Umuahia, a member of the waste management team, Dr. Aham Uko assured that within three days,Umuahia and environs will achieve a level normalcy in waste disposal adding that the team will equally ensure that the state does not witness a reoccurrence of refuse dumps in parts of the state. He said that going forward,the intervention team will focus on areas such as Ikot Ekpene Finbarrs road,Ahiaeke,Government College, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike axis as well as Finbarrs road,School road,Umuahia Township Stadium axis and Mission Hill. Other areas include Tower,Ubakala expressway, Aba road and Isicourt. Dr Uko however called for a massive reorientation of the people on the need for environmental cleanliness adding that it is time for people to learn how to separate biodegradable from non biodegradable wastes before disposing them to the designated points.
“People should also endeavour to keep their immediate environment clean and use designated receptacle points. Those that contravene should be made to face some level of reprimand . “Cleanliness of the environment is the duty of everybody and should not be left for the government alone. People have to help the government to create an environment that is clean for all of us. It is our responsibility to ensure that from our various homes,we do our own bit in keeping the environment clean”,Uko concluded.
