ASEPA’ll make Abia cleanest state in Nigeria in fulfillment of Governor Otti’s Promise – DGM, Jonah

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From Boniface Okoro, Umuahia

The management of Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) has assured that the agency would continue to adopt environmental sanitation and waste management initiatives that would see Abia become the cleanest state in Nigeria.

The Deputy-General Manager of ASEPA, Umuahia Zone (which also comprise the entire Abia Central Senatorial Zone) Catechist Ambrose Jonah, gave the assurance when he received in his office, the Comrade Chidi Asonye-led new leadership of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Abia State Council.

“We have a focus and the focus is to ensure that Abia State remains the cleanest state in Nigeria. And by the Special grace of God, we are going to do it. Nothing will distract us,” Catechist Jonah vowed, adding that achieving the goal would mean fulfilling Governor Alex Otti’s campaign promise to Abians.

Reflecting on his one year in office which coincided with the NUJ visit last Wednesday, February 12, 2025, the DGM noted that though Abia is not where it expects to be in terms of environmental cleanliness, tremendous progress has been recorded in keeping the entire state clean.

He recalled that before the coming of the present administration, Abia was known and mocked as the dirtiest state and for having the worst road network but observed with happiness that Governor Otti has changed the narrative.

“The story has changed. Today, the Governor, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, (OFR), has changed the narrative. We thank God for that. But the only thing is that we are not where we want to be,” he said.

Catechist Jonah outlined plans through which ASEPA, Umuahia Zone, wishes to actualize the goal of making Abia the cleanest state to include house-to-house refuse collection currently in its pilot phase, night shift operations, revenue collection and setting up of mobile courts.

“There are certain things we have in place as our plans. We want to start our house-to-house refuse collection. We want to go beyond what we have been doing, visiting people’s house, picking the refuse ourselves, since we want to start revenue collection as well.

“We also want to establish a mobile court that will help us to sustain what we have started (having revenue to continue with the house-to-house refuse collection). People are difficult to control but we believe that with the help of these mobile courts, we are going to sustain what we have started.

“Before now, we had also established a night duty operation where we have people, busy, working at night. And the reason for this night duty operation is that people are dropping refuse indiscriminately. In some places, people will have receptacles very close to them, instead of them to just walk down there in few minutes, you see them dropping the refuse wherever they like. This has to be checked,” the DGM explained.

He noted that to be in-charge of waste management in the state capital housing people of diverse backgrounds and ideology calls for innovations that would drive successful environmental management and said his staff was doing their best to serve the people well.

“To be in charge of waste management is not an easy job. It demands dedication, commitment. All that the Governor demands is good result.

“And that is the reason I have dedicated myself, from morning till night, to ensuring that we keep to our campaign promises that Abia State is going to be the cleanest state in Nigeria. And by the special grace of God, we are doing our best,” Catechist Jonah said.

He was grateful to the Governor for the support the agency was receiving from him, which he said, was making their task easy.

“We are very glad that we have somebody like Dr. Alex Otti; he is a focused man and he works with people he knew that can deliver and that is the reason why we are here,” the ASEPA DGM said.

He thanked the NUJ which presented him with a Letter of Credence for his commendable efforts, but cautioned journalists against crediting his Zone with achievements it did record in the guise of praising him.

“And the truth is this: don’t report what we are not doing, we don’t praise ourselves. But if we are doing anything bad, call my attention, I am out to serve the public.” he said, as he promised to partner the Abia Council of NUJ in areas of common interest.

Earlier, Abia NUJ Council Chairman, Comrade Chidi Asonye, had explained that the visit was to explore areas of partnership between ASEPA, Umuahia Zone and the NUJ, that would be of mutual benefit to the parties and contribute to the realization of the goal of making Abia the cleanest state.

Asonye commended the DGM and his staff for their industry being reflected in the cleanliness of Umuahia and environs and urged them not to relent.

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