Cross River Sanitation Team Storms Ogoja, Decries Low Compliance with Sanitation Order
By Sylvia Okoi
The Cross River Sanitation Team, led by the Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Moses Osogi, arrived in Ogoja Local Government Area on Saturday for an on-the-spot supervision of the Statewide Environmental Sanitation Exercise.
Fielding questions from Journalists after the exercise, the Commissioner expressed his disappointment on the low level of compliance observed in the area as many business owners and commuters were seen disregarding the sanitation order and going about their normal activities.
“I am disappointed at how people are continuing with their daily routines, seemingly oblivious to the State’s sanitation order,” he stated.
During the enforcement operation, the Environment Commissioner, accompanied by staff from his Ministry, security personnel, and members of the judiciary along with the Ogoja Urban Development Authority, conducted a thorough crackdown on defaulters saying, “The impact of our visit today will set the pace for future exercises.”
He emphasized that the law must be upheld, noting that mobile courts have been established to prosecute offenders, acting as a deterrent to others.
He clarified that the monthly sanitation practice is intended to promote environmental sustainability for the benefit of all citizens, rather than serve as a punishment and urged collaboration between the Ogoja Urban Development Authority and security agencies in Ogoja and neighboring communities to enhance sanitation efforts.
In response, the Executive Secretary of the Ogoja Urban Development Authority (OUDA), Hon. Ama Agboje, lamented the poor behavioral attitudes towards necessary changes.
He reported having conducted sensitization and awareness campaigns across various sectors of the L.G.A. to facilitate a smoother execution of the monthly exercise and pledged to implement stricter measures while accelerating collaboration with relevant stakeholders moving forward.
He expressed gratitude to the Commissioner for the on-the-spot supervision in Ogoja, stating that the impact of the Commissioner’s visit would significantly influence enforcement against defaulters during subsequent exercises.
While the exercise was on, the mobile courts were observed prosecuting offenders and educating them about the importance of the sanitation exercise in accordance with state law.
