In its monthly environmental sanitation exercise, the Abia State Ministry of Environment disapproved of the conduct of some security personnel and urged them to refrain from participating in unlawful activities.
One such misconduct reported was transporting offenders in their vehicles during the cleanup period.
Mr. Philomen Ogbonna, the Commissioner for Environment in the state, voiced the concerns in Umuahia on Saturday while addressing the press following the monitoring of this month’s sanitation campaign.
Representing the commissioner, Joy Maduka, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, highlighted that the Abia State government was using the cleanliness initiative to encourage a healthier environment for the residents of Abia, acknowledging a notable improvement in the April session compared to previous ones.
Notably, the commissioner criticized the setup of illegal checkpoints in Umuahia by security personnel, who were penalizing violators of environmental regulations, suggesting that such offenders should be taken to the authorized Mobile Court at the Ministry of Environment in Umuahia.
Recounting a disturbing incident from a few months back involving a military personnel during a cleanup operation, the Permanent Secretary shared, “Like an experience we had. We stopped somebody and he did not obey us. He wanted to fight us. He really abused us. It was later that he identified himself as a military man.”
Meanwhile, the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) disclosed its plans to enforce penalties on individuals caught dumping waste at unauthorized times and locations, emphasizing that the state government has procured additional waste disposal equipment.
Catechist Ambrose Jonah, the Deputy General Manager of ASEPA overseeing the Umuahia zone, made this announcement in Umuahia after overseeing awareness campaigns and cleanup drives conducted by ASEPA, the Ministry of Environment, and other organizations to clear odorous waste piles at Isi Gate and other areas of Umuahia.