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A total of 96 violators of the monthly cleanup exercise in Umuahia, Abia State capital, were today (Saturday) sentenced to various forms of punishment by a Mobile Court in the city presided over by Magistrate O.C. Ibekwe.
In today’s cleanup exercise, 108 persons were arrested in Umuahia, while 12 were discharged based on health grounds and school attendance, as the exercise recorded a high level of compliance across the state.
In his comment after monitoring the environmental sanitation in Umuahia, the State Commissioner for Environment, Mr Philemon Ogbonna, reaffirmed the commitment of the state government to maintain a clean and healthy environment.
He announced plans by the government to establish a mobile court at the famous Orie Ugba Market in Umuahia urban to prosecute traders who persistently violate the Abia State Basic Environmental Sanitation Laws.
The commissioner regretted that repeated appeals to traders to comply with the monthly cleanup exercise had fallen on deaf ears, pointing out that the state government has been lenient enough but would now take a firm step.
He said, “You heard me say it, we’re going to put an arrangement in place and move the sanitation court to the Orie Ugba Market. By the time we get 10, 20, 30 persons, the lesson would have been taught”.
The Commissioner further disclosed that the Ministry of Environment would intensify enforcement at motor parks and marketplaces by giving equal attention to the Friday edition of the sanitation exercise, which had previously received less compliance.
“Going forward, we’ll put a strategy in place to make sure that, as we do on Saturday, we’ll also apply the same on Friday. That one concerns motor parks and markets. We will see how best it can be effectively enforced,” he added.
Ogbonna commended men of the 145 Battalion of the Nigerian Army stationed at Umuoriehi, Umuahia North LGA, for joining the ministry in enforcing compliance during the exercise, disclosing that a reliable partnership had been reached for continued collaboration.
“We have really come to a partnership arrangement that the soldiers will continue to join us in this exercise. So, going forward, I see much more improvement at the Isigate axis of Umuahia city and other places,” he said.
While expressing the satisfaction of the government with the level of public participation, Ogbonna lauded residents of Umuahia and Aba for embracing the culture of cleanliness and urged them to sustain it.
“We’re happy that Abians, to a very large extent, are imbibing the culture of keeping the environment clean. It’s not yet 100%, but there’s great improvement.
“We appeal to everyone to join hands with the government to sustain this progress. Prevention is better than cure,” he emphasised.
He used the opportunity to inform that the Abia Government’s new enforcement measures will be to institutionalize a culture of environmental responsibility.
This, he opined, will be done by establishing mobile courts and partnering with the military and police in the battle towards maintaining a healthy environment, stressing that the aim is to entrench lasting behavioural change and foster a cleaner, healthier environment for all residents.
Also speaking, the Chairman, House Committee on Environment in Abia House of Assembly and Member representing Ohafia South State Constituency, Hon. Kalu Mba-Nwoke, praised the residents of Umuahia and Aba for complying with the exercise and attributed the current improved hygienic condition of the state to better health safety compliance.
“Our hospitals are becoming less crowded because people are living healthier lives. Those who still loiter about during sanitation hours should desist and stay at home,” he counselled.
The Senior Special Assistant to Governor on Environment, Prof. Ijeoma Iheukwumere, described the October 2025 edition as one of the most successful cleanup exercises so far.
She commended security agencies, especially the army and the police, for their support in enforcing compliance and cautioned young girls against leaving their homes during the exercise.
