Abia State arrests 114 sanitation defaulters, plans new environmental watch

The Abia State Government has arrested 114 individuals for violating sanitation rules during the state's monthly environmental exercise held on Saturday in Aba and Umuahia. The government announced plans to establish a Neighbourhood Environmental Watch initiative aimed at ensuring the sustained improvement of environmental cleanliness across the state.

In Umuahia, 64 defaulters were apprehended. Nine individuals, including students traveling for lectures and those on essential duties, were released after providing health or other legitimate grounds. Three offenders were ordered to perform community service. The sanitation exercise in Umuahia saw significant resident participation, with people clearing gutters and cleaning their surroundings, supported by deployed tippers for debris evacuation.

Commissioner for Environment, Mr Philemon Ogbonna, represented by Permanent Secretary Mr Ikechukwu Oriuwa, expressed satisfaction with the turnout and urged residents to maintain the habit of cleanliness. The proposed Neighbourhood Environmental Watch aligns with the administration's commitment to prioritizing sanitation and environmental cleanliness.

In Aba, over 50 sanitation defaulters were arrested. While commending market traders for complying with directives to clear drainage channels, the ministry's Zonal Officer for Aba Zone, Mrs Amarachi Goodluck, criticized some residents in the Osisioma axis for moving about during restricted hours and ignoring the exercise. Health officers in Osisioma and Obingwa Local Government Areas were urged to actively participate in future exercises. Additionally, volunteers enforcing movement restrictions were commended, but warned against extortion, while transport union leaders were encouraged to mobilize their members.

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The ministry is considering establishing a Neighbourhood Environmental Watch across the state in line with the present administration’s commitment to sustaining the giant strides it has made in the area of sanitation and environmental cleanliness of the state.