Abia Lawmaker has frowned at the attitude of Police Officers from Central Police Station, Umuahia, who hire vehicle and arrest defaulters during sanitation exercise, take them to their division and collect money for bail.
Addressing newsmen after the Monthly Sanitation exercise for the month of September, the House committee Chairman on Environment and member representing Ohafia South State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon Mba Nwoko, condemned the action of the Officers in its entirety.
He said it was unfortunate that when the security Operatives were supposed to partner the Ministry of Environment to ensure compliance, they chose to work independently, arrest defaulters and allegedly collect fees ranging from N10,000 to N25, 000, insisting that this is a violation of the Environmental Sanitation Law.
Hon Mba Nwoko called on the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, to intervene in the matter, by calling on relevant authorities to order with a view to checking this anomaly.
He also revealed that he will raise the issue during plenary of the Abia State House of Assembly, to ensure that proper resolution is taken on the matter to forestall reoccurrence.
Speaking on the activities of Traders at Orie Ugba Market, Hon Mba Nwoko, reiterated that markets in the State is dear to it in order to ensure that Abians don’t buy contaminated edibles that will endanger their lives.
According to him, until traders especially in Orie Ugba Market, Umuahia attain some level of compliance, the State Government will continue to ensure that machineries are put in place to checkmate their activities in relation to adherence during sanitation.
He also restated the plans of the State Government to set up mobile sanitation court at Orie Ugba Market to try those found violating Abia State Environmental Law, saying that their stance on this can change if they start complying during the exercise.
Also speaking, a representative of the Commissioner for Environment, who is the Director in charge of Ministry of Environment, Rev. Udechukwu Ukachukwu, appealed to transport unions in neighbouring states to restrict movements during sanitation exercise, insisting that the exercise is held throughout the federation.
He also commended Ugba Community for coming out en masse to participate in the exercise, telling them not to relent, while frowning at a situation where security agents, serve as escorts to transporters coming from neighbouring Akwa Ibom, Imo States among others, insisting that this practice will not be entertained going forward.
Correspondent reports that 83 defaulters were arrested and arraigned before the Environmental Sanitation Court.
