The Vice Chairman of Biase Local Government Area, Hon. Chief Ekuma Ngwu, JP, has commended Governor Bassey Edet Otu’s sanitation policies, saying they have yielded visible improvements in environmental hygiene and cleanliness across Cross River State.
Ngwu’s assessment is contained in a recently published study titled “Assessment of Environmental Sanitation Practices in Calabar City, Cross River State, Nigeria,” published in the GVU Journal of Research and Development, which examined sanitation practices in Calabar metropolis and highlighted significant improvements in environmental cleanliness.
The study, authored by Ngwu, credited recent government initiatives, including the renewed monthly sanitation exercise, upgraded sanitation infrastructure and enhanced waste collection, with contributing to improved public health and the restoration of Calabar’s reputation as one of Nigeria’s cleanest urban centres.
According to the findings, sanitation awareness among residents remains high, with 91 per cent of respondents actively participating in the monthly sanitation exercise. The study also identified effective waste management systems as an important factor in improving environmental hygiene within the metropolis.
Ngwu said the findings provided evidence of the impact of the state government’s sustained attention to environmental sanitation, particularly under Governor Otu’s administration. “The renewed commitment to environmental sanitation has produced visible results, and the gains recorded in Calabar demonstrate what sustained government action and public participation can achieve,” he said.
The Vice Chairman also commended the immediate past Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Moses Osogi, for his contribution to the progress, particularly through the enforcement of environmental laws and the establishment of structured waste management practices.
He called on the present Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Effiom Ekaha, to consolidate the achievements by strengthening sanitation enforcement and sustaining initiatives that have improved environmental hygiene across the state.
Ngwu, however, said the study identified areas requiring further intervention, including improved sanitation infrastructure in local communities and stronger partnerships with private-sector organisations for the routine maintenance of public amenities.
He also advocated the deployment of modern waste-processing technologies to improve waste disposal, reduce the dumping of refuse in drainage channels and minimise environmental conditions that contribute to severe flooding across the state.
The study further stressed the importance of sustained public participation in sanitation activities, noting that government efforts would have greater impact when residents, communities, businesses and other stakeholders take collective responsibility for maintaining clean and healthy environments.
Ngwu said environmental sanitation should be treated not only as an aesthetic concern but also as an important public-health and urban-development priority requiring sustained investment, effective infrastructure and responsible citizen participation.
He expressed optimism that continued collaboration between government and stakeholders would help consolidate Cross River’s reputation for environmental cleanliness while addressing emerging sanitation challenges in Calabar and other communities.
The study, published in the GVU Journal of Research and Development, is available under DOI 10.5281/zenodo.21543373.
By Kingsley Agim
