No fewer than 158 persons were on Saturday docked by the Environmental Sanitation Court for flouting the monthly clean-up exercise laws in Uyo, the state capital.
The suspects were apprehended by the task force teams deployed to various locations during the exercise which lasted from 7 a.m to 10 a.m.
A widely publicised notice dated February 18, 2025, and signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah, had imposed restriction of movement during the environmental sanitation exercise.
The notice urged residents and commuters passing through the state to comply with the directive in the collective effort to maintain a clean environment, warning that defaulters would face prosecution in the sanitation court.
Ruling on the offences, Senior Magistrate Amanda Effiom charged the blamed the suspects for failing to participate in the monthly sanitation exercise organised by the Akwa Ibom State Government on Saturday, February 22, 2025, a violation punishable under Section 39 of the Akwa Ibom State Public Health Law.
While some pleaded guilty, others denied the charges, leading to further proceedings.
However, a mild drama played out in court when some defaulters from other major ethnic groups in Nigeria allegedly feigned ignorance of the English language in an attempt to stall proceedings, prompting the court to engage an interpreter for translation.
The Senior Magistrate handed down various penalties, including community service within the court premises and on major roads in Uyo, ranging from three to five days, while others were given the option of fines between ₦3,000 and ₦12,000.
Speaking after the court session, Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency (AKSEPWMA), Prince Ikim expressed concern over the continued disregard for sanitation laws by some residents.
He expressed dismay why some individuals still chose to violate the law despite Governor Umo Eno personally leading the exercise alongside security agencies and other stakeholders.
Ikim stated that his agency had exhausted the first two phases; Education and Enlightenment, and was now fully implementing the third E, which is Enforcement.
He reaffirmed the commitment of the Umo Eno administration to maintaining a clean and healthy environment, urging residents to take sanitation seriously as a civic responsibility rather than a forced obligation.
Gov Eno hails citizens for compliance in February Sanitation
Meanwhile, this month’s exercise, which was carried out with full restriction of human and vehicular movement between 7 a.m and 10 a.m, had Governor Umo Eno actively participating.
Eno who promised to ensure that Akwa Ibom maintains its top spot as the cleanest state in the country urged residents to embrace environmental sanitation for a healthy citizenry.
Akwa Ibom Governor Umo Eno said his administration is committed to ensuring that the State maintains its status as Nigeria’s cleanest state, while also sustaining the pursuit of making it the nation’s premier tourism destination.
Eno, who monitored the February edition of the State’s monthly environmental sanitation exercise at some locations in Uyo metropolis, expressed satisfaction with the compliance of citizens and the extent to which the exercise has yielded positive results.
At the Itam Junction flyover, he lauded the clean and hospitable
disposition of Akwa Ibom people which, according to him, has accounted for its Cleanliness Performance Index (CPI) award as Nigeria’s cleanest state for six consecutive years.
“From what we have seen so far, we want to thank Akwa Ibom people for observing the sanitation and clearing their environment. If you know anything about an Akwa Ibom person, you can tell that we are clean people. I believe we should continue to maintain that.
“Akwa Ibom has been declared the cleanest State in this nation up to six times. So we must continue to maintain that status,” he said.
Commending the facelift given to the Itam flyover by the colourful artistic decoration, the Governor commended the Anietie Eka – led Uyo Capital City Development Authority (UCCDA), and urged that the aesthetics be maintained, as it depicts Akwa Ibom’s rich cultural heritage.
“I am very proud of what I have seen here. Akwa Ibom is growing rapidly towards becoming the numero uno tourism destination of Nigeria, and I am sure by the grace of God that we would get there.
“These designs depict our culture, our people and who we are. I am only asking that we should maintain it, and not allow hoodlums to take over these places. We should not allow these things to be vandalized.
At the site of the new Mbiabong Motor Park complex, the Governor praised the Uyo Council Chairman for the initiative of creating the ultra-modern motor park to eliminate street loading at the Mbiabong Timber Market and the Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga Avenue, and for the level of work at the complex, expressing hope that transporters and commuters will ensure optimal utilization of the facility.
The Governor stressed the need for Akwa Ibom people to maintain a positive mindset to jointly pursue the dream of making the State a tourism destination of choice.
Governor Umo Eno speaking during the sanitation exercise
The Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency (AKSEPWMA), Prince Akpan Ikim, attested to the Governor’s determination to ensure clean and healthy environment in the State as exhibited in his move to personally monitor the exercise, adding that AKSEPWMA, with the cooperation of Akwa Ibom people, has moved from just working to win awards, to maintain the Akwa Ibom attitude of cleanliness.
The Chairman of Uyo Local Government Area, Dr. Uwemedimo Udo, taking the Governor on a facility tour of the new motor park, applauded his gesture of personally participating in the sanitation exercise and in giving Uyo a befitting outlook, adding that the motor park project was a part of his Council’s determination to complement State Government’s effort in maintaining orderliness in the city.
The flag-off took place at the Udo Udoma–Osongama traffic light junction, with the AKSEPWMA Chairman, the Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, and other heads of security agencies in the State leading the cleanup walk through Oron Road and Wellington Bassey Way.
