From Nwogha Ndubuisi, Abakaliki
Ebonyi State Commissioner for Environment, Victor Chukwu said the ministry had overcome the challenge of abandoned waste in Abakaliki, the state capital, by dividing the city into four zones for continuous evaluation.
Chukwu made the disclosure during a meeting with the Committee on Public Account in Abakaliki, noting that waste evacuation now takes place daily between 5pm and 8am.
He added that the ministry had also embarked on tree planting exercises and procured new tractors to ease the evacuation of waste in designated sites, assuring residents of a cleaner and more hygienic environment.
Earlier, Chairman of the House of Assembly Committee on Public Accounts, Abiri Godwin Abiri charged the commissioner to develop an action plan to ensure total cleanliness of Abakaliki metropolis.
He urged the ministry to maintain a clean environment by ensuring functional network of drainage systems and effective management of solid waste by ensuring the consistent evacuation of waste.
Abiri also called on the commissioner to brief the committee on the functionality of the state’s recycling plant, which he said would create employment opportunities for residents.
In their contributions, Celestine Ogba, Igu Chikezie Nwankwoand Victor Nwoke stressed the importance of preventing epidemics, particularly cholera.
