Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has initiated a special environmental sanitation campaign to prevent the 2023 flooding predicted by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMeT). The governor personally participated in clearing the gutters at Park Road by Urua Nka in Eket Local Government Area on Saturday, August 27, 2023.
Governor Eno urged the citizens and residents of the state to always take part in the monthly state-wide environmental sanitation exercise, saying that it was everyone’s responsibility to keep Akwa Ibom clean and safe. He also warned that the state government would enforce the existing laws against defaulters of the monthly exercise and institute new regulations where necessary.
The governor also announced that his administration was set to establish a new Ministry for Water Resources and Sanitation, which would oversee the provision of potable water and proper waste management in the state. He said that the new ministry was part of his A.R.I.S.E. Agenda blueprint, which stands for Accountability, Reformation, Industrialization, Security and Empowerment.
The Chairman of Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency (AKSEPWMA), Prince Akpan Ikim, commended Governor Eno for leading by example and assured that his agency was ready to implement the governor’s order. He said that the agency would mobilize its enforcement officers to inspect and serve notices to defaulting residents, adding that defaulters would face fines or prosecution .
The Chairman of Eket LGA, Mr. Akaninyene Tommey, also praised Governor Eno for choosing Eket as the flag-off point for the sanitation campaign. He said that the people of Eket were grateful for the governor’s attention and support, especially in the areas of road construction, health care and education.
