From TCNEWS
A total of 92 defaulters were arrested and prosecuted during June’s monthly environmental sanitation exercise in Abia State, sparking stern warnings from the state government to both the Nigeria Police Force and the general public.
In an effort to maintain environmental hygiene and enforce sanitation laws, state officials carried out surprise inspections, only to uncover what they described as unauthorized interference by some officers of the Abia State Police Command. Rather than taking sanitation offenders to the environmental sanitation court as stipulated by law, the officers reportedly diverted them to Central Police Station, Umuahia, allegedly demanding payment for their release.
Addressing the media, Hon. Kalu Mba Nwoke, House Committee Chairman on Environment and Member representing Ohafia South State Constituency, condemned the actions of the officers. He emphasized that these practices undermine legal processes and tarnish the state government’s ongoing environmental initiatives.
“It is illegal and unacceptable for defaulters to be detained at police stations instead of facing legal proceedings at the environmental sanitation court. The Commissioner of Police must call his officers to order,” Nwoke stated while overseeing the lawful transfer of detained individuals from the police station to High Court, Umuahia.
Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Philemon Asonye Ogbonna, represented by Permanent Secretary Ikechukwu Oriuwa, warned that the era of leniency is over. The ministry, he said, will now act decisively against both citizens and enforcement officers violating sanitation protocols.
Markets, particularly Orie Ugba Market, were cited as areas of non-compliance, with traders reportedly treating sanitation hours as relaxation time rather than participating in the clean-up.
“We no longer have carrots to give,” Oriuwa cautioned. “Those found in markets or motor parks during the exercise will be arrested. Everyone must take part in making Abia clean and green.”
Also speaking, Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Prof. Ijeoma Iheukwumere, directed a warning to parents and guardians: ensure children are not playing football or roaming the streets during sanitation hours. Their active participation is vital for instilling civic responsibility from a young age, she stressed.
This development highlights the critical need for institutional accountability and citizen participation in environmental governance. By addressing both unlawful enforcement and civic irresponsibility, the Abia State Government is setting a precedent for transparency, legal compliance, and environmental stewardship in Nigeria.
Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) General Manager, Mr. Ogbonnaya Okereke, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to refuse collection and clean-up support across the state. He highlighted ASEPA’s structured system involving street sweepers, roadside waste bins, and house-to-house refuse collection.
In a notable health advisory, Okereke warned butchers and abattoir operators against burning meat with tyres, citing the dangers of releasing toxic chemicals. He announced a forthcoming rollout of biogas plants at slaughterhouses to provide safer, eco-friendly alternatives.
Of the 92 sanitation defaulters arrested, 79 were prosecuted, 11 individuals were discharged due to health conditions, 2 students were released to attend the JAMB mop-up exam, per the ruling of Presiding Magistrate His Worship O.C. Ibekwe. The remaining offenders were prosecuted according to the Environmental Sanitation Law of the state.
