Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) has launched a new house-to-house waste collection program in Umuahia as part of its efforts to further improve sanitation within the capital city.
Speaking during the launch, Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, who was represented by the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Ude Oko Chukwu, PhD, expressed the determination of government to ensure that the state assumes a pride of place as the cleanest in Nigeria. He called on residents of the capital city to imbibe good sanitation practices to protect themselves from health hazards. The Governor added that the State Government will, henceforth, fully enforce the Abia State environmental laws to ensure cleanliness of the State.
At the event which held at Okpara auditorium in government house, Umuahia, the Governor recalled that on assumption of office for the second term, his administration promised that cities in the State would wear a new look in terms of sanitation, adding that the new sanitation buckets being introduced will help in realizing the objectives of ultimately turning wastes to wealth in the state. He then announced that every household is expected to have one of the refuse buckets which would help in easy evacuation of refuse by the compactors, and appealed to Abians and residents alike to assist the government to keep the environment clean.
He commended ASEPA on the new initiative and urged it to continue in that path.
In his speech, the Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Chris Ezem, who said the measure is aimed at enhancing the cleanliness of the State, maintained that it is expected that each household will procure a 240liter bucket at the cost of N15,000 each for the green and N13,000 for the black as compactor trucks would go from house to house to evacuate the wastes. He appealed to Abians to co-operate with the government to make the State filth-free as additional 1,100 liter receptacles will also be deployed at key locations.
He reiterated the governor’s position that the laws would be applied to the letter as mobile courts will start functioning soon to prosecute defaulters.
Also, the Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Aham Uko, disclosed that the State Government has moved environmental cleanliness to the next level through door-to-door refuse collection.
He announced that after 30 days, it would be an offense not to have the buckets as the law would be executed in such a manner that refuse compactors will move from house to house to collect waste, and advised people to put their wastes in ASEPA cellophanes ready for evacuation. Dr Uko further revealed that in due course, refuse will be separated into degradable and non -degradable wastes to make them easier for processing.
A new roll on roll off truck was later handed over to ASEPA Umuahia.
