By Solomon OKPO.
In a firm demonstration of its commitment to environmental hygiene, the Akwa Ibom State Government, on Saturday, apprehended 158 individuals for violating the February edition of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise.
Despite widespread compliance across the state, some residents flouted the directive and were arrested by the task force teams deployed to various locations. The offenders were immediately arraigned before the Environmental Sanitation Court in Uyo, the state capital.
This enforcement followed a prior public notice issued on February 18, 2025, by the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah, which emphasized movement restrictions during the sanitation period. The notice urged residents and commuters to adhere to the directive in a collective bid to sustain a clean environment, warning that defaulters would face legal consequences.
Presiding over the cases, Senior Magistrate Amanda Effiom charged the accused with failing to participate in the mandatory sanitation exercise on February 22, 2025, a violation under Section 39 of the Akwa Ibom State Public Health Law.
While some defendants pleaded guilty and received instant penalties, others denied the charges, leading to further legal proceedings. A moment of mild drama unfolded in court when some non-indigenous offenders allegedly feigned ignorance of the English language, necessitating the engagement of an interpreter to facilitate the hearing.
The court imposed varying penalties, including community service assignments within the court premises and along major roads in Uyo, lasting between three and five days. Additionally, some offenders were given the option of fines ranging from ₦3,000 to ₦12,000.
Speaking to journalists after the court session, the Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency (AKSEPWMA), Obong (Dr.) Prince Ikim, lamented the persistent disregard for sanitation laws by some residents. He noted that despite Governor Umo Eno personally leading the cleanup exercise alongside security agencies and other stakeholders, some individuals still chose to flout the regulations.
Obong Ikim reiterated that the government had already implemented the first two phases of its sanitation strategy, Education and Enlightenment, and was now in the Enforcement stage. He emphasized that environmental cleanliness is not just a government directive but a civic responsibility that residents must take seriously.
This month’s sanitation exercise, which enforced a strict restriction on human and vehicular movement from 7:00 am to 10:00 am, saw active participation from Governor Umo Eno. The flag-off took place at the Udo Udoma, Osongama traffic light junction, with top officials, including the AKSEPWMA Chairman, Commissioner of Police CP Baba Mohammed Azare, and other security heads, leading a cleanup walk through Oron Road and Wellington Bassey Way.
Also in attendance were board members and management of AKSEPWMA, winners of the agency’s recently concluded essay competition, traditional rulers, and other key stakeholders, further reinforcing the administration’s commitment to a cleaner and healthier Akwa Ibom.
