55 arrested for Violating environmental Sanitation Exercise

Ebonyi State’s Ministry of Environment on Saturday arraigned 55 persons for allegedly violating the monthly environmental cleanup exercise in the state.

The suspects were arraigned before the Ebonyi State Special Environmental Court (ESSEC) in Abakaliki, which was presided over by Justice Chinua Ukwa.

The suspects, if convicted, face a three-month jail term; an option of N10,000 fine or both.

Mr Fidelis Nwakwo, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, told newsmen at the end of the exercise that the suspects would be tried in line with new environmental law of the state.

He described the monthly sanitation exercise as successful, adding that the government was winning the war against environmental degradation.

Nwankwo noted that there was a massive participation of residents in the exercise, adding that the weeds and drains in and around Abakaliki were cleared.

``In spite of the few arrests we made, the exercise was still very successful and I commend our people for turning out en masse for the exercise,’’ he said.

He said the September edition of the exercise was special, as it was designed to ensure adequate sanitation of the state, ahead of the forthcoming national and state celebrations.

Nwankwo noted that the nation would celebrate its 53rd independence anniversary on Oct.1, while Ebonyi would celebrate the 17th anniversary of its creation on the same day.

``Come Oct. 1, the nation will be celebrating its 53 years of independence, while our state will at the same time celebrate its 17 years of its creation; hence the need for us to celebrate the two anniversaries in a clean environment,’’ he said.

The permanent secretary said that the government had secured a permanent refuse dumpsite for Abakaliki, the capital city, at Ohatekwe Community in Ezza North Local Government Area.

He said that the new site would serve as a final refuse dumpsite, adding that it would be developed into a comprehensive, integrated waste management complex where wastes would be recycled into useful products.

Nwankwo noted that the complex would also have facilities for the conversion of organic wastes into inorganic fertilizer.