No fewer than 89 people were arrested and prosecuted on Saturday, in Umuahia, for violating the Abia State Environmental Sanitation Law during the monthly sanitation exercise.
Addressing newsmen after the Exercise, the Commissioner for Environment, Mr Philemon Ogbonna, said though the level of compliance to the exercise is commendable there is still room for improvement.
The Commissioner who was flanked by the Chairman Umuahia North LGA, and the SA to the Governor on Climate Change and Sustainability, advised Abians not to be carried away by the Yuletide celebrations, but to ensure they keep their surroundings clean and to avoid littering the surroundings with refuse.
“We should be cautious of the environment and make sure all we do conforms with the preaching, the sermon, that the environment must be clean.
“So as we travel, as we eat, let’s not eat in excess. Christmas does not mean eating and drinking excessively. That is going to be an environmental hazard,” said Philemon.
On his part, the Umuahia North Council Chairman, Hon. Smart Ihuoma, expressed dissatisfaction with the level of compliance and participation in the clean-up exercise especially among traders and other classes of people around the Isi gate Umuahia.
He decried that despite having a heart-to-heart discussion with the traders and transporters at Isi gate, on the need to keep their surroundings clean, they have remained adamant in their attitude.
Hon. Ihuoma revealed that the law prohibiting people from trading in unauthorized places would be activated from next week Monday.
“Nigerians generally want to be forced to do what they are supposed to do. We have a law that actually prohibits people from trading in unauthorized places and also not keeping the environment clean.
“So that law will come into full enforcement from Monday.
“We are ready to step on toes to maintain orderliness around the gate area because it’s a very busy place. So there has to be that We will step on toes if need be,” said Smart.
Contributing, the Special Assistant to Governor Alex Otti on Climate Change and Sustainability Mrs. Esther Ajah, appealed to Abians to desist from acts that contravene environmental standards, adding that for Abia to work, people must play their roles in conforming with environmental laws
NewsNGR reports that Out of the total number of persons arrested, a considerable number of them were fined before leaving, while others were allowed to go on health grounds and other reasons.