The Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Princess Patricia Onyemaechi Obila on Saturday joined environmental workers in a cleanup exercise across Abakaliki, reaffirming the state government's commitment to environmental sanitation and urban renewal.
Princess Obila participated in the monthly environmental sanitation exercise while leading a high-powered enforcement and monitoring team across major parts of the state capital.
The exercise was conducted in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment and other relevant agencies responsible for maintaining environmental standards in the state.
The Deputy Governor, who was accompanied by the Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Victor Chukwu, as well as top ministry officials and environmental health officers, inspected compliance with the sanitation directive in various locations within the metropolis.
Addressing residents and business owners during the exercise, Obila emphasized the importance of maintaining a clean environment, noting that environmental sanitation remains critical to public health, sustainable development and the overall beautification of the state.
She urged residents to strictly adhere to the monthly sanitation programme and cultivate the habit of environmental cleanliness on a daily basis.
According to her, the administration of Governor Rt. Hon. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru remains committed to creating a healthy and aesthetically appealing environment through its urban renewal initiatives.
The Deputy Governor also warned against indiscriminate dumping of refuse, blockage of drainage channels and other practices capable of degrading the environment, stressing that offenders would be made to face appropriate sanctions in line with extant environmental laws.
She called on landlords, traders, transport operators and community leaders to support government efforts by ensuring that their surroundings remain clean and free from environmental hazards.
The monitoring exercise recorded a high level of compliance as major commercial centres, intra-city borders and major transit routes remained free of vehicular and human traffic during the sanitation period, enabling residents to participate fully in the exercise.
Officials of the Ministry of Environment commended residents for their cooperation and urged them to sustain the momentum in order to promote a healthier and cleaner Ebonyi State.
The Ebonyi State Government reiterated its appeal to citizens to view environmental hygiene not merely as a monthly obligation but as a continuous civic responsibility necessary for the wellbeing of all residents.
The monthly sanitation exercise forms part of the state's broader environmental management strategy aimed at promoting public health, preventing disease outbreaks and supporting ongoing urban renewal efforts across Ebonyi State.
