Abia State Government has said the current administration under Governor Alex Otti is poised to ensure that Abia maintains clean environment just as the citizens will imbibe the culture of voluntarily participating in the exercise.
The Abia State Commissioner for Environment, Philemon Ogbonna who dropped the hint while addressing newsmen on Saturday after the monthly sanitation exercise, said they want to get to the level where Abians can participate in the exercise without being coreced, adding that once that is done, they would have achieved 50% of what they want.
He revealed that the turn out today especially in Umuahia, is laudable and a departure from previous exercises, stressing that people are now beginning to imbibe the culture of keeping their surroundings clean which is the core objective of the Governor Alex Otti led administration.
He stated that he was impressed with the level of compliance especially from people at Isi gate as they were busy cleaning up the place, emphasizing that though they have not gotten to the level they want to be yet, but it is an indication that Abians are already keying into the philosophy of the State Government towards keeping Abia environment clean.
The Commissioner also cautioned those who have continued to travel or engage in other activities during sanitation exercise, frowning that it is an aberration for people to shun an exercise that only lasts for three hours, insisting that the sledge hammer will continue to fall on those who do not want the administration to succeed in the area of maintaining a clean and healthy environment.
Also speaking, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Environment, Prof. Ijeoma Iheukwumere, commended Abians for beginning to imbibe the act of keeping their environment clean. She called on shop owners to cultivate the habit of cleaning their places of business, pointing out that everyday should be mapped out for cleaning the environment.
On his part, the member representing Ohafia South in the Abia State House of Assembly and Chairman, House Committee on Environment, Hon. Kalu Mba-nwoke, described the exercise as impressive, stating that though the State is yet to witness full compliance, it is feat that is achievable very soon.
Contributing, the Deputy General Manager, Abia State Environmental Protection Agency, Umuahia Zone, Cathecist Ambrose Jonah, appreciated the level of compliance during the exercise, saying the synergy among the Sanitation Officers including the Commissioner of Environment, is the reason for the success.
On the improvement witnessed along Eket street that was always flooded, he commended Governor Alex Otti, for the assistance given his Agency, saying that it took them weeks to desilt the gutters and tunnel before getting to the level it is today just as he informed that plans were underway to evacuate to Itumbuzo, mad people who are roaming the streets of Umuahia.
