The Cross River State Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Moses Osogi, has decried the poor sanitary practices of some residents within the Calabar metropolis.
The Commissioner expressed his concerns on Thursday while inspecting ongoing desilting exercises at Effio-Ete Junction and other major drainage channels across the city.
He strongly condemned the indiscriminate dumping of refuse into streets and waterways, particularly during rainfall, noting that such actions are primary contributors to blocked drains and destructive flooding.
“The habit of dumping refuse into drainage channels continues to sabotage government efforts,” Osogi stated.
“We have carried out several interventions along major streets, but these efforts are frequently undermined by negative behavioral attitudes.”
While emphasizing Governor Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu’s "People First" mandate, the Commissioner assured the public that the Ministry is working tirelessly to reposition Cross River as the cleanest State in Nigeria.
He called on residents to support Government initiatives, stressing that safe environmental practices remain a core message of the current administration.
He further noted that the Ministry is streamlining coordination across all environmental parastatals to enhance waste evacuation and urban beautification.
In their separate interviews during the inspection, residents shared their views on the state of the environment; Ms. Happiness Bassey (Trader), Praised the Government for the timely desilting as the rainy season approaches, however, alleged that improper waste disposal by children in street conditions (locally known as Scolombo) contributes to the degradation and urged the government to address the issue.
On his part, Mr. Anthony Peter, decried the persistent blockage of drainage systems, attributing the problem to the nonchalant attitude of certain residents.
Also speaking, Mrs. Peace Bassey, Urged the government to strengthen the environmental task force.
She argued that stricter enforcement and penalties for defaulters are necessary to curb the menace of illegal dumping.
With the desilting exercise aimed at ensuring the free flow of water, the state expects a significant reduction in flooding across vulnerable areas. While the government intensifies its efforts, the Ministry maintains that the long-term sustainability of a "Cleaner and Greener Cross River" depends on the responsible cooperation of its citizens.
