Abia Monthly Sanitation: 53 Persons Arrested For Violating Environmental Law

Fifty three persons were arrested on Saturday for violating the Abia state environmental sanitation law.

Hallmark Business reports that they were arrested during the May, 2025 edition of Abia State monthly sanitation exercise by members of the Task Force, for roaming the streets of Umuahia and carrying out businesses during the clean up hours.

Most of the defaulters brought to the Environmental Mobile Court said they did not listen to radio announcements in the week concerning the sanitation exercise.

However, the presiding Magistrate, Onyinyechi Ibekwe discharged two persons on health grounds and another defaulter who was identified as a student.

Addressing newsmen after the exercise, the Commissioner, Ministry of Environment, Mr. Philemon Ogbonna, said the exercise was impressive as people complied because they are still in the mood of the second year anniversary of Governor Alex Otti.

He lauded Abians for keying into the attitude of keeping their surroundings clean without being coerced, admitting that there must be defaulters who might also give flimsy excuses.

Ogbonna said much will be achieved in the coming months when the Sanitary Inspectors who will be going house-to-house to monitor environmental cleanliness fully co-opted into the system.

On his part, the Chairman of Abia House of Assembly Committee on Environment, Hon. Kalu Mba Nwoke, who commended the compliance level, also decried the activities of those doing business at Orie Ugba market.

He reminded them that on environmental days, they are not supposed to be at the market, emphasizing that they need to remain in their houses to observe the sanitation as well as clean up their surroundings.

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Contributing, the Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Prof. Ijeoma Iheukwumere, lauded the outcome of the exercise, maintaining that it will get better in the coming days.

Also speaking, the Deputy General Manager of the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA), Umuahia zone, Catechist Ambrose Jonah, said the level of compliance was massive linking it to the second year anniversary as Abians are happy with the feat the Governor Alex Otti has achieved these two years on the saddle.

Catechist Jonah, who frowned at the number of defaulters during the exercise, called on Abians to cultivate the habit of staying at home, participate in the exercise by keeping their surroundings clean than choosing to do business while relegating their health to the background.