Cross River Environment Ministry Engages Ward Officers, Market Leaders

Sanitation: Cross River Environment Ministry Engages Ward Officers, Market Leaders

Commissioner Bassey Mensah decries indiscriminate waste disposal, street trading in Calabar

By Sylvia Okoi

The Cross River State Ministry of Environment has intensified efforts to improve environmental sanitation across Calabar, with the engagement of Ward Environmental Sanitation Community Liaison Officers and plans to work more closely with market leaders across the metropolis.

The development followed the September statewide environmental sanitation exercise, which recorded active participation from residents of Calabar Municipal and Calabar South Local Government Areas.

Speaking to journalists after monitoring the exercise, the Commissioner for Environment, Barr. Bassey Mensah, said the engagement of the Ward Liaison Officers was designed to strengthen coordination and monitoring of sanitation activities at the ward level.

Mensah Decries Indiscriminate Waste Disposal

While inspecting sanitation activities at various locations in Calabar Municipal, the Commissioner expressed concern over the indiscriminate disposal of waste by traders around the Mobil and MCC axes, despite the availability of waste dumpsters within the areas.

Mensah described the practice as unacceptable and an eyesore, warning that indiscriminate waste disposal could create environmental and public health concerns, particularly along major highways.

He also said the State Government had taken steps to discourage street trading in the affected areas, describing them as environmental flashpoints requiring coordinated efforts to maintain cleanliness and order.

The Commissioner reiterated that the monthly environmental sanitation exercise was a government directive and urged residents, traders and other members of the public to comply.

He warned that persons who violate the sanitation regulations would face the consequences of the law.

Government to Engage Market Leaders

Mensah also announced plans to engage chairmen and leaders of major markets across the Calabar metropolis, stressing that market leaders must become active partners in maintaining a clean and healthy environment.

He disclosed that following the declaration of the second Wednesday of every month as a sanitation day for Watt Market, the practice would be extended to other markets across the metropolis.

According to him, the initiative is aimed at institutionalising regular sanitation in markets and preventing a recurrence of environmental challenges.

The Commissioner said the Ministry would meet with market leaders to agree on appropriate modalities for implementing the sanitation exercise.

He stressed that achieving a cleaner Cross River State requires cooperation between government and residents.

Akiba Calls for Greater Compliance

Also speaking, the Special Adviser, General Duties, Barr. Ekpenyong Akiba, commended the Commissioner for what he described as a proactive and responsive approach to environmental management.

Akiba called on residents to improve their compliance with environmental sanitation directives.

He noted that keeping Cross River clean and green was a collective responsibility, adding that although compliance had improved in some homes and communities, some residents continued to engage in practices that undermine environmental cleanliness.

Waste Management Agency Commends Calabar South Residents

The General Manager of the Cross River State Waste Management Agency, Hon. Bassey Otudor, expressed satisfaction with the level of compliance recorded in Calabar South Local Government Area.

Otudor commended residents for their participation and described their compliance as a demonstration of civic responsibility.

Offenders Arrested During Sanitation Exercise

During the exercise, several persons were arrested and prosecuted for violating sanitation regulations.

Those apprehended included individuals found playing football during sanitation hours, as well as persons who were loitering or engaging in trading activities during the exercise.

In a related development, the evacuation of desilted materials was carried out concurrently during the sanitation hours as part of efforts to improve environmental conditions across the city.

The Ministry is expected to sustain its engagement with ward officers, market leaders and residents as part of the State Government’s broader efforts to improve environmental sanitation and public health in Cross River State.