The Chairman of Onitsha Main Market and Vice Chairman of Omagba Phase II, Chijioke Okpalaugo, has commended the Anambra State Government for the successful conduct of the July 4 monthly environmental sanitation exercise, describing residents’ participation as encouraging and a positive step towards building a cleaner and healthier state.
Speaking after monitoring the exercise in Omagba Phase II, Mr. Okpalaugo said residents, traders and other stakeholders turned out in large numbers to clean their surroundings and clear blocked drainage channels, demonstrating a strong commitment to environmental cleanliness.
He praised the Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuma Charles Soludo, for sustaining the mandatory sanitation exercise, noting that the initiative is particularly important during the rainy season when blocked drains contribute significantly to flooding and environmental hazards.
According to him, regular desilting of gutters and drainage channels will improve the free flow of rainwater, reduce incidents of flooding and erosion, and promote a safer and healthier environment for residents.
While applauding the government’s efforts, the market leader appealed to the state government to direct Mayors across the 21 local government areas to ensure that refuse, silt and debris removed during sanitation exercises are promptly evacuated and properly disposed of.
He warned that leaving waste materials along roadsides after clearing drainage channels could undermine the exercise, as heavy rainfall may wash the debris back into the drains, causing fresh blockages.
Mr. Okpalaugo stressed that effective waste evacuation is crucial to achieving the objectives of the environmental sanitation programme and sustaining the gains already recorded across the state.
He reaffirmed the commitment of traders and residents of Omagba Phase II to supporting government policies aimed at protecting the environment and called on Ndi Anambra to continue embracing environmental sanitation as a collective responsibility.
