By Sylvia Okoi
The Cross River State Government, through the Ministry of Environment, has pledged to sustain the state’s sanitation culture with its monthly environmental sanitation exercise.
This commitment was reaffirmed during the September edition of the statewide exercise, which took a unique turn as the monitoring team, led by the Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Moses Osogi, defied heavy rainfall in the early hours of Saturday, September 27, to ensure compliance across the state.
Speaking with journalists at the end of the exercise, the Environment Commissioner expressed gratitude to God for a successful outing despite the downpour. He noted that each month’s exercise carries its own significance, reflecting steady progress in the sanitation culture of the state.
READ ALSO: Patriots, not politicians or military might builds great nations – Cleric
On the ministry’s flood disaster preparedness, Hon. Osogi explained that proactive measures have been put in place, including awareness campaigns, desilting of drainages, and improved waste evacuation processes. He warned against harmful environmental practices such as building residential homes on water channels and indiscriminate dumping of waste into drainages.
At the Parliamentary Extension Abattoir, the Commissioner rewarded workers with cash gifts for demonstrating high compliance with sanitation guidelines.
Similarly, the Senior Special Adviser to the Governor on Environment, Mr. Magnus Ntui, reiterated the government’s determination to enforce sanitation across the state. He emphasized that enforcement extends beyond the metropolis to rural communities, while expressing concern over the poor attitude of some residents who continue to disregard the sanitation order.
In separate interviews, residents who participated in the exercise commended Governor Bassey Edet Otu’s sanitation drive. They noted that since the reintroduction of the exercise, Calabar and its environs have experienced a visible improvement in cleanliness and environmental freshness.
