Abia State Government Set To Pounce On Traders Over Sanitation

The Abia State government says it has exhausted its patience for traders in Orie Ugba and other major markets in Umuahia over their continued defiance in keeping the monthly sanitation exercise in the state.

The Commissioner for Environment Philimon Ogbonna who spoke to journalists in Umuahia on Saturday January 31, 2026 after monitoring the January edition of the exercise expressed dismay that traders in the markets have failed to keep to the sanitation regulations.

Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Ikechukwu Oriuwa, the Commissioner said time has come to wield the “big stick”. He revealed that during the monitoring of the exercise, his team discovered an age long heap of refuse that according to him is “taller than a two storey building” inside the Orie Ugba market in Umuahia.

“Yes, Orie Ugba? I don’t know what to say. I think it’s time to “wield the stick”. We discovered something very shocking at the Orie Ugba market. A heap of refuse, taller than a two storey building, that is what we discovered today”.

He frowned at the market leaders who he blamed for not doing enough to sensitize the traders on the importance of sanitation and to participate as well.

He wondered why they allowed such a huge refuse dump to remain there without contacting relevant government agencies to remove them, even though, according to him, the market leaders still collect money from the traders for a reason he did not reveal to newsmen.

“And you have market leaders who collect money from these traders. One, we are not saying they should cart away the heap as high as a two storey building. But we have government agencies that they can collaborate with to get it done. So, it’s very disheartening to find out that at this stage, in this new area, we can find a heap of that nature. And people still sell around the huge heap. You know, so I think it’s time to wield the stick”.

On his part, the Deputy General Manager of the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency, ASEPA, Catechist Ambrose Jonah expressed satisfaction with the level of compliance recorded adding that ASEPA is poised to assist to ensure proper waste disposal in the state.

He noted that the agency has acquired more receptacles which he said has been positioned at strategic places to reduce the distance residents cover to dispose of their waste.

He said the agency is working closely with the Ministry of Environment for proper service delivery.

He expressed shock that the traders would leave such a refuse dump inside the market but gave assurance that ASEPA would move in immediately to evacuate the refuse.

“The level of compliance is very, very high. And ASEPA as usual, we work together with the ministry of environments as a body. I think we did well today”.

“As the, Permanent Secretary of the ministry environment rightly said, one of the problems we are having, most of the markets are not complying. But after now, we are going to move into some of these markets so that we can see them”.

“Because when they have such things, we expect them to write to ASEPA so that, at least ASEPA can move in. Since they didn’t do that, we have to go there by ourselves because this present government, we have to ensure that everywhere is green. That’s actually what we are doing. I will assure the general public that we are going to show that these markets are very clean”.

Also speaking, the Chairman, Abia State House of Assembly Committee on Environment, Hon. Kalu Mba Nwoke said the level of compliance did not measure up to the expectation of the “New Abia”, but expressed hope that in subsequent outings, it would get better.

The lawmaker who represents Ohafia South State Constituency disclosed that the ministry of Environment would have a meeting with the market leaders to address all the concerns.

“Actually, I know it will soon get the aesthestic nature. It’s not satisfactory with the New Abia that we are talking about. I have to be honest with you. We need the governor’s presence to be there”.

“The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment will have someone meeting with their executive tomorrow. Every other thing relating to the market will be addressed in that meeting”.