…Decries Indiscriminate Waste Disposal, Street Trading
Following the inauguration of Ward Environmental Sanitation Community Liaison Officers, the September statewide environmental sanitation exercise in Calabar recorded active participation among residents of Calabar Municipal and Calabar South Local Government Areas.
Speaking to journalists shortly after monitoring the exercise, the Commissioner for Environment, Barr. Bassey Mensah, said the engagement of the Ward Liaison Officers was aimed at coordinating sanitation activities at the ward level.
The Commissioner, who inspected sanitation activities at various locations in Calabar Municipal, particularly frowned at the indiscriminate dumping of refuse by traders around the Mobil and MCC axes, despite the presence of waste dumpsters within the vicinity. He described the situation as unacceptable and an eyesore, stressing that such practices posed environmental and public health concerns, particularly along major highways.
Barr. Mensah said the State Government had taken a decision to discourage street trading within the area, describing the location as a flashpoint that required concerted efforts to maintain environmental sanity. The Commissioner reiterated that the environmental sanitation exercise was a government directive and urged residents, traders and other citizens to comply with the directive, warning that violators would face the consequences of the law.
The Environment boss also announced plans to engage chairmen of major markets across the Calabar Metropolis, stressing the need for market leaders to become active partners in the State Government’s efforts to maintain a clean and healthy environment.
He disclosed that following the declaration of the second Wednesday of every month as a sanitation day for Watt Market, the practice would be extended to all markets within the Calabar Metropolis.
He explained that the initiative was aimed at institutionalising regular sanitation in markets and preventing a recurrence of environmental challenges witnessed in some areas.
Barr. Mensah said the Ministry would meet with market leaders to agree on modalities for implementing the sanitation exercise, adding that government and the people must work together to achieve a cleaner Cross River State.
Also speaking, the Special Adviser, General Duties, Barr. Ekpenyong Akiba, commended the Commissioner for his proactive and responsive approach to environmental management and called on residents to improve compliance with environmental sanitation directives.
He stressed that keeping Cross River green and clean was a collective responsibility, noting that while there had been improved compliance in some homes and communities, some residents still engaged in practices that undermined environmental cleanliness.
In the same vein, the General Manager, Cross River State Waste Management Agency, Hon. Bassey Otudor, expressed satisfaction with the level of compliance in Calabar South Local Government Area and commended residents for their demonstration of patriotism.
During the exercise, several offenders were arrested and prosecuted, including persons found playing football during the sanitation hours, as well as those found loitering and engaging in trading activities during the exercise.
Significantly, the evacuation of desilted materials was carried out concurrently during the sanitation hours.
By Sylvia Okoi
