Abia State Government, ABSG says it has endured enough of the violation of the Abia State Basic Environmental Law and will therefore wield the stick to serve as punishment for offenders.
As a result therefore, following that resolve, the February edition of the exercise is going to be tough on offenders, including market operators. youths playing ball on the streets during sanitation periods, motor parks and others who chose to disobey the order.
In a notice by the state Ministry of Environment, the general public were reminded that the February edition of the Monthly Sanitation Exercise will be holding on Saturday, February 28, 2026, between the hours of 7:00am and 10:00am.
The Commissioner, Mr.Philemon Asonye Ogbonna emphasized “the movement of people and vehicles during the period shall be restricted except those on essential duties who would be required to present on demand, valid identification or any authentic authorization for such exemption”.
He reminded environmental stakeholders in the state that they are required to monitor and sensitize their people on the importance of the exercise and to participate as well, while, “all markets, motor parks, private and public transport companies as well as business premises are to remain closed on Friday February 27, 2026 between the hours of 7:00am and 9:00am to carry out their own clean-up exercise”.
It would be recalled that following failure in their duties of ensuring that traders clean up their areas for business as well as observe the exercise during the January edition of the exercise, the state Government said it will no longer tolerate the attitude of market leaders for failing to ensure that traders remain at home during the hours of the monthly sanitation exercise.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Mr. Ikechukwu Oririuwa, who represented the Commissioner in Umuahia lamented that having repeatedly asked the market leaders and traders to up their game regarding observing sanitation exercise, it will apply the stick to serve as punishment for those going against the Abia State Basic Environmental Law.
According to him, “we are not asking the market leaders to evacuate the refuse heap with their own money, rather to inform relevant authorities of government of the existence of such misnomer. I must say that I am completely disappointed with their attitude. They are not assisting the state government to maintain a healthy environment for all.”
Also speaking, the ASEPA DGM Umuahia Zone, Catechist Ambrose Jonah, expressed his happiness that Abians are complying with the monthly exercise, emphasising that it is a good beginning for the year.
For the member representing Ohafia South State Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly and House Committee Chairman on Environment, Hon. Kalu Mba-Nwoke, the attitudes of traders and market leaders in Umuahia area are not assisting the state government in maintaining a healthy environment.
About 51 defaulters were arrested, and were treated in accordance with the Abia State Basic Environmental Law.
