Environmental Sanitation, Lawmaker Spits Fire

The member representing Ohafia South State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Kalu Mba Nwoke, popularly known as Etiokwe, has called on Abia to embibe the culture of keeping the environment clean.

Hon. Mba Nwoke made the call on Spin FM live radio interview on Monday, while discussing the environment and cleanliness in Abia.

Hon. Nwoke who is the House Committee Chairman on Environment re-echoed the popular Abia slogan, “Cleanliness is next to Godliness”

He said the government of Dr Alex Otti in his wisdom has withdraw clearing of gutters from the office of Abia State Environmental Protection Agency and assigned it to Umuahia Capital Development Authority, UCDA for Umuahia while that of Aba is now the duty of Greater Aba Development Authority, GADA.

While he acknowledged the efforts of the Ministry of Environment and Abia State Environmental Protection Agency,ASEPA in ensuring proper sanitation in Abia, urged the Ministry of Environment to sue for more funding in order to do better, especially in the area of evacuation waste from the streets.

According to him, his committee has been engaging with relevant stakeholders in the area of awareness campaign, workshops, public lectures and sensitization of the public on the need for a clean Abia.

The Asaga Ohafia born lawmaker said that his committee as part of its oversight function has also been going on on the spot assessment of erosion sites and areas that need urgent government attention, after which they engage the house to reach a resolution for urgent attention.

Moreso he challenged traders in various markets in the state, especially those in Orie Ụgba Market in Umuahia to always observe the monthly sanitation exercise in the state.

He hinted that his team, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment would visit Oboro and Ariam markets in Ikwuano local government area during the next sanitation exercise in the state.

Hon. Nwoke regretted that most people in the state would not comply with any government directive until force is applied which he said that sometimes would be used as a tool to blackmail elected government officials. He said not withstanding, the government would be left with no choice than to apply the stick to ensure better compliance.

He assured Ndi Abia that the government would also look in the direction of provision of public toilets as a way to curtail open defecation.

On the issue of climate change, he said there’s a legislative backing to align the state with global climate change practices, citing the provision of 20 electric buses by the state government as part of the efforts to reduce carbon emissions.