The Governor of Abia State, Okezie Ikpeazu, has declared a state of emergency on environmental sanitation in the state.
The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Onyebuchi Ememanka Esq disclosed this in a statement on Friday, September 27.
According to the statement, the governor will “shortly sign an Executive Order to create Autonomous Waste Management Authorities in the following Metropolitan Local Government Areas in Abia State – Aba North, Aba South, Osisioma Ngwa, Obingwa, Ugwunagbo, Umuahia South and Umuahia North.
“Local Waste Managers shall be appointed immediately to superintendent over these Waste Management Authorities in the specified Local Government Areas and be solely responsible for waste management in their LGAs of operation.
“Effective from today, Friday, 27th September 2019, the Governor shall, for four weeks, personally take over and coordinate Waste Management activities in the entire Aba Metropolis to restore sanity and discipline in the entire Waste Management System within the emergency period.”
Ememanka said that the state government has acquired 11 Heavy Duty Trucks and 3 additional refuse compactors which will be deployed immediately to complement existing equipment in the war against refuse in Abia.
“Steps are also in place to manage the use of refuse dumps in Abia State,” he added.