Abia Govt To Establish Neighbourhood Environmental Watch To Boost Cleanliness
The Abia State Government has announced plans to establish a Neighbourhood Environmental Watch as part of efforts to encourage residents to take greater responsibility for keeping their communities clean.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Mr. Ikechukwu Oriuwa, disclosed this on behalf of the Commissioner for Environment during an interactive session with journalists in Umuahia.
According to Oriuwa, environmental sanitation should not be left to government alone, stressing that citizens must actively participate in maintaining a healthy environment.
“It is not only the government that should be doing everything. The people have to be part of it. Creating a Neighbourhood Environmental Watch will help Abians take responsibility for keeping their surroundings and the state clean,” he said.
Oriuwa said the proposed initiative will empower residents to monitor their surroundings, discourage indiscriminate waste disposal, and foster a culture of environmental responsibility across the state.
Speaking further, he reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to delivering Governor Alex Otti’s vision of a cleaner and healthier Abia State.
“At the inception of this administration, His Excellency promised Abians that every sector of government must work. In our own sector, the Ministry of Environment is doing our best. We advise Abians to key into this vision. Abia is God’s Own State, and cleanliness is next to godliness. For us to truly be God’s Own State, we must keep Abia clean*,” Oriuwa stated.
He noted that since the inception of the present administration, the ministry has continued to implement policies and programmes aimed at improving environmental sanitation and creating a cleaner, safer, and healthier state for all residents.
Oriuwa urged Abians to take personal responsibility for keeping their homes, streets, markets, and public spaces clean.
He also thanked journalists for their continued support and called on residents to partner with the government to sustain a cleaner environment across the state.
The briefing also featured questions from journalists on environmental conditions in Umuahia, with officials indicating that the appropriate authorities would provide further clarification on the issues raised.