ANSG deploys 87 waste contractors, joins others to mark World Clean Up Day
Anambra State Government says it has engaged additional 87 waste contractors to tackle the challenge of waste management in the State.
Governor Willie Obiano disclosed this in Awka during an activity to mark Nigeria’s 59th independence Anniversary.
Governor Obiano, who identified blocked drainages resulting from improper disposition of waste as a major cause of damage on the State roads, said his government has set up an agency to coordinate de-silting of drainages and evacuation of waste.
He promised that with the inception of the dry, aggressive road construction and reconstruction will commence across the state.
Also speaking, the Catholic Bishop of Awka Diocese, Most Reverend Paulinus Ezeokafor, warned Nigerian leaders to show genuine commitment to the people’s cause or continue to face hostile treatment from Nigerians home and abroad.
According to Bishop Ezeokafor, the recent spate of attacks on politicians by Nigerians abroad, is their way of responding to the bad leadership and attendant hardship which they face in the country.
He therefore called on leaders to use the abundant resources with which God has blessed Nigeria, to ensure that life is made more meaningful for the people.
Meanwhile, the Anambra State government has joined its counterparts to commemorate World Clean Up Day.
The exercise which took place recently at three focal places in the state, such as Awka, Onitsha and Nnewi, was geared towards keeping Anambra clean.
World Clean Up Day is a global social action programme, aimed at combating the global solid waste problem, which is posing serious threats to human existence.
It was in actualisation of Goal 17 of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) of United Nations.
The cleanup exercise was spearheaded by the Anambra State Waste Management Authority (ASWAMA) and Ministry of Environment in conjunction with Redivivus Industries Limited.
It would be recalled that Redivivus, a Waste Management and Recycling Company, recently engaged by the Anambra State government, to recycle wastes and turn them into raw materials for further production purposes.
Since then, Redivivus had embraced the vision of the present administration, which is geared towards ensuring a healthy environment.
Managing Director and CEO, Anambra State Waste Management Authority (ASWAMA), Hon Amechi Akorah, enjoined Ndi Anambra to always troupe out and support this social action programme.
Akorah, who was addressing journalists after the exercise in Awka, said it would provide a pathway to making environments greener, as well as creating a sustainable earth for all inhabitants.
He warned against indiscriminate disposal of refuse, noting that the state government had provided receptacles at strategic points for adequate disposal of refuse.
He said: “Everybody is required to dump their refuse at the designated and collection points.
“The refuse collection trucks will be available to pick wastes from those designated places. Anambra Waste Management Agency (ASWAMA) advocates Ndi Anambra to desist from dumping refuse in drainages.
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“There is a plan for this social action programme to occur quarterly after this pilot programme,” he added.
On his part, Managing Director, Redivivus Industries Limited, Emeka Congo Ajekwu, commended the collaborative efforts of various environmental agencies in the state, said such would sustain healthy environment.
Mr. Ajekwu observed that dirty and unfriendly environments breed sickness, health hazards, epidemics and other environmental disasters like floods, erosion and building collapse.
“The environment we neglect and abuse today will neglect us tomorrow. The course of action during this World Clean Up Day is for everybody to clean up his or her environment in order to have a clean environment,” Ajekwu said.
Other partners in the Clean Up exercise include the Nigerian Red Cross, the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Police, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), National Youth Service Corps(NYSC), Peace Corps, Man ‘o’ War, Girls Guild, UNIZIK SUG.
Also to be part of the exercise were Nigerian Security & Civil Defense Corps(NSCDC), Operation Clean & Healthy Anambra (OCHA) Brigade, Anambra Traffic Management Agency(ATMA), Awka Development Union of Nigeria (Women Wing), Community Leaders, Market Associations, Junior Chambers International(JCI) and other well meaning individuals in the state.
