Abia State Government on Sunday announced plans to reintroduce sanitary inspectors and mobile courts to ensure people of the state maintained a healthy environment.
The state Commissioner for Information, John Kalu, made this known on Monday while addressing youth from the Adventist Church, who embarked on street cleaning in Umuahia, the state capital.
While applauding them for supporting government’s vision to keep a clean and green environment, Mr. Kalu called on other young people to emulate the Seventh Day Adventist Youth Ministry, Abia North Central Conference, who embarked on the exercise.
He said soon, the government will deploy sanitary inspectors to the streets with mobile courts to enforce sanitation rules and maintain a clean and healthy environment.
“This government belongs to the people of Abia State and we must all, as individuals and groups, own the growth and development of our state by contributing our quota to improve the quality of life we enjoy,” Mr. Kalu said.
“If we support Governor Ikpeazu by doing little things like cleaning our homes and properly disposing of wastes, we will collectively enjoy a higher standard of living and help achieve the objective of the government to spread prosperity in Abia State.
“The era of sanitary inspectors sitting in offices to wait for the next salary is over. They will be provided with the resources they need to go to the streets where they are needed and help keep Abia clean and safe,” the commissioner said.
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Also speaking, the Commissioner for Environment, Aham Uko, said the government was determined to bring rapid environmental transformation to the state.
Mr. Uko announced that his ministry will soon embark on construction of parks and gardens in strategic locations across the state to provide good leisure facilities for the people.
He thanked the youth for demonstrating patriotism and zeal in response to the Biblical saying “cleanliness is next to godliness.”
“Abia youths are godly and a beacon of hope to the state. We are proud of them for this and other initiatives they have undertaken to support the administration of Governor Ikpeazu,” Mr. Uko said.
“Our ministry will support their efforts and sustain the clean environment of the state under the leadership of Dr Ikpeazu.
“Governor Ikpeazu is very passionate about our environment, that accounts for why he has partnered with the World Bank through NEWMAP, for environmental remediation of erosion affected locations through the length and breadth of Abia State.
“He intends to comprehensively deal with the flood situation in Aba, using underground tunnels to create a lasting solution to the flooding witnessed in Aba.
Our ministry will also introduce the planting of trees and flowers to beautify our environment, while efforts shall be made to create parks and gardens at some strategic locations,” he noted.
Earlier, the leader of the youth team, Ubani Ezebunwa, stated that his group embarked on the cleanup exercise to support government’s initiative to keep Umuahia clean.
Mr. Ezebunwa praised the leadership of Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) for providing vehicular support to his team and leading the way in keeping the state clean.
“We must applaud the governor for what he has done to ensure that Umuahia is clean,” Mr. Ezebunwa said.
“We want to also express our appreciation to the leadership of ASEPA for the good work they are doing.
“Our coming out today is to support them and the government of Dr Okezie Ikpeazu to continue to keep Abia clean and we hope to make this more regular.”
The youth cleaned the area inside and around Government House Umuahia as well as Bank Road and Akanu Ibiam Way.
