Sanitation Exercise: ANSG Charges Over 50 Persons For Violating Environmental Laws

Over fifty persons have been arrested and tried for flouting Anambra State Environmental Laws.

The offenders were arrested and tried at Awka Magistrate Court and other mobile courts seating in different parts of Awka during the June edition of the statewide monthly sanitation exercise.

Those found guilty were either fined or mandated to perform community service or both.

The June edition of the monthly sanitation exercise was remarkable as enforcement was intensified in many parts of the state and major markets, parks and shopping malls.

Speaking to the ABS, the Commissioner for Environment, Engineer Felix Odimegwu, represented by the Director, Environment and Ecology, Ministry of Environment, Mr. Joseph Edochie, urged Anambra Residents to support the campaign for clean, green and livable state by always cleaning up their surroundings and paying adequate attention to the environment.

Engineer Odimegwu, restated government’s directive that residents must embark on sanitation exercise from seven to ten o’clock in the morning every last Saturday of the month, but regretted that most people do not participate in the exercise.

He therefore made it clear that henceforth, local authorities will apply all necessary measures to ensure full compliance.

On his part, the Managing Director, Anambra State Waste Management Authority, ASWAMA, Mr. Mike Ozoemena, who monitored the exercise said that Governor Chukwuma Soludo, is committed to healthy and clean Anambra Environment, but regretted low compliance and called on Ndi Anambra to imbibe the habit of healthy living and also adhere to government instructions.

Also speaking , the Transition Committee Chairman, Awka South Local Government Area, Mr. Thankgod Anagor, affirmed that with the support of the state government, the council is committed to enforcing the sanitation laws and asked residents to either key into the sanitation exercise or face the full wrath of the law.

Some residents, who joined in the sanitation, including Messers. Arinzechukwu Chigbogu and Ikechukwu Eze, commended the state government for its efforts at cleaning up the state, urging other residents to complement government’s efforts by keeping their surroundings clean.

A defaulter, Miss Chioma Nwafor, pleaded for more sensitization, which according to her, will help more people to comply.