EBONYI STATE GOVT RESUMES MONTHLY SANITATION, ARRAIGNS 81 VIOLATORS

REPORTER: AMECHI ODO

Ebonyi State Government says it will introduce stringent measures towards ensuring that refuse dumps that hitherto lithered the streets of Abakaliki in the last one month do not resurface.

The State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Victor Chukwu made this known in Abakaliki while monitoring the recommencement of the monthly sanitation in the state.

Radio Nigeria observed that in the last one month, refuse dumps increased in lips and bounds in many parts of Abakaliki, the capital city.

Although the state government had commenced massive evacuation of the refuse dumps, the involvement of the people in ensuring that the state remained one of the cleanest in the country resulted in the statewide clean up.

The State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Chukwu, said the state government would sustain the emergency evacuation of refuse, enforce its disposal at government designated points and check the activities of scavengers to have a cleaner environment.

The State Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Jude Okpor, who also monitored the exercise, called for stronger partnership between the state government and the people to sustain the fight against unwholesome environmental practices.

The Chairman of Ezza North Council Area, Chief Ogodo Alinome and his Abakaliki counterpart, Mr. Steven Nwaogba, said the volume of refuse to be evacuated by the government required all hands to be on deck.

Some residents of the state seen cleaning up their premises called for the sustenance of the monthly cleanup.

About 81 persons who allegedly violated movement restriction order imposed by the government were arrested and arriagned before an Abakaliki Magistrate Court.

EDITED BY CHUKWUBUIKE MADU