By Awyetu Asabe Hope
The Abia State Government arrested 114 sanitation defaulters during its monthly environmental sanitation exercise held on Saturday in Aba and Umuahia, and announced plans to establish a Neighbourhood Environmental Watch to sustain environmental cleanliness.
In Umuahia, 64 offenders were arrested, while nine people, including students and those on essential duties, were discharged on health and other legitimate grounds. Three offenders were ordered to perform community service. More than 50 defaulters were also arrested in Aba.
The Commissioner for Environment, Mr Philemon Ogbonna, represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr Ikechukwu Oriuwa, said the proposed neighbourhood watch would strengthen sanitation enforcement and improve environmental cleanliness across the state.
Ogbonna urged residents to keep their surroundings clean and avoid indiscriminate refuse disposal, reaffirming the Alex Otti administration’s commitment to environmental sanitation.
The exercise recorded high compliance in both cities, with residents clearing gutters and cleaning their surroundings, while tippers evacuated debris.
In Aba, the commissioner commended traders for clearing drainage channels but criticised residents in the Osisioma axis for violating movement restrictions. He also urged health officers in Osisioma and Obingwa LGAs to play more active roles during future exercises.
The head of the ASEPA Monitoring Task Force, Mr Praise Onuoha, condemned an attack on agency officials during the exercise, stressing the agency’s commitment to keeping Aba clean.
Residents, including Mr Robby Onyema and Mrs Ego Odinkemere, praised the government’s sanitation efforts and called for more frequent debris evacuation.
