From TCNEWS
As part of activities marking the World Environment Day 2024, Abia State Ministry of Environment, Tuesday, embarked on a road-Show in Umuahia the state capital, to sensitize the citizens and residents on the need to get involved in the environmental cleanliness and sustainability.
Pix: Abia State Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Philemon Asonye Ogbonna (2nd from right) during the road show in Umuahia.
Interacting with newsmen shortly after the enlightenment campaign which touched the major roads and streets in Umuahia, the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Philemon Asonye Ogbonna, said that this year’s theme “Land Restoration, Desertification and Drought Resilience: Your Participation Counts”, tends to address the pressing issues of climate change and environmental threats, and the need for everyone to adopt environmentally friendly activities to safeguard humanity from these hazards caused by human actions.
The Commissioner who emphasized the importance of land restoration and the need to combat desertification and drought, also pointed out that protecting the Abia environment is crucial in “ensuring a sustainable future for ourselves and future generations”.
Ogbonna, who asserted that environmental cleanliness and waste management has remained Gov. Otti’s priority, hence the need for Abians to collectively help to sustain it, called on all to take the issue that affects the environment seriously in support of Governor Alex who has demonstrated exceptional interest in ensuring a clean and green Abia.
Mr. Ogbonna recalled that one of the trademarks that indexed Abia before the coming of the present administration was foul smell oozing out from dump sites at various locations in the state and garbage that littered the streets of Aba and Umuahia were also a common nauseating sight.
“We are all witnesses of a noticable improvement in the sanitary condition of Abia environment since Governor Alex Otti took over mantle of leadership. The stench that hitherto greeted the passersby and commuters at dump sites in parts of the state have since disappeared. Many of the streets around Umuahia the state capital, and the commercial city of Aba, now look clean”, Ogbonna pointed out
He said that waste management has remained one of the sectors the Otti-led administration has made some undeniable and appreciable imprints and the Governor’s vision is to see Abia become number one and the best state among the 36 states including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja in environmental cleanliness.
Furthermore, he urged the citizens and residents to ensure that the feat is achieved and sustained, while encouraging them to join in the environmental cleanliness on the World Environment Day, slated for Wednesday, 5th June, 2024.
Speaking respectively, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Environment, Prof. Ijeoma Iheukwumere and the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Lady Joy Maduka, reminded the public that the environment is for everyone, hence the need to be the vanguard of environmental cleanliness.