By Praise Chinecherem
Anambra state government has fixed September 30 to outlaw dumping of refuse and other waste materials on roads and along streets of the state.
Chairman, Anambra State Waste Management Authority (ASWAMA), Board, Dr Emma Ezenwaji, disclosed this in a meeting between the board and acting chairmen and environmental health officers from the 21 Local Government Areas of the state.
He said the law was to ensure that the State becomes one of the cleanest in the country, by December.
He solicited their support and cooperation towards ensuring that the 31 contractors already engaged by the government towards achieving the goal of taking refuse off-street.
He said, “There are 31 contractors engaged for waste evacuation across all the state constituencies. Local Government and ward waste management committees will soon be inaugurated. We need you to keep them on their toes.
“We will give you the list of the contractors and their contacts. Please keep us informed of what goes on in your jurisdictions.”
Managing Director, ASWAMA, Mike Ozoemena, explained that house to house collection of refuse will be activated after the abolition of street dumping by September ending.
“The current dirty state of our environment is not acceptable and we must do something about it.
“We will distribute bags for waste collection while individuals, households and corporate bodies will be required to pay sanitation levies. We cannot do all these without your assistance.
All hands must be on deck” he pleaded.
Also speaking, board member, representing the civil society, Prince Chris Azor described the acting chairmen and environmental health officers as critical to the vision of ridding the state of refuse.
He said, “We call for partnership. Take this message to the hinterlands. Help us with sensitization and awareness creation.
“To ensure the success of this Saturday’s environmental sanitation, the meeting resolved to reach out to the presidents-general and women leaders to help mobilize their people for the exercise.
“They will also be needed to create awareness about the initiatives of the present administration.”
