Commercial drivers in Abia State are in for a major shake-up as the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) moves to enforce compulsory waste bins in all commercial vehicles across the state.
The directive was unveiled during a high-level stakeholders’ meeting held on Tuesday, where transport union leaders and key players were briefed on the new sanitation crackdown aimed at keeping Abia clean.
Speaking at the session, the Director General of ASEPA, Ogbonnia Okereke, made it clear that the government is not backing down on its environmental push, stressing that the initiative aligns with Governor Alex Otti’s cleanliness agenda.
Okereke assured stakeholders that feedback from the meeting would be relayed directly to the governor, reinforcing the administration’s commitment to policies that improve public health and environmental standards.
He explained that the move is part of a broader strategy to maintain Abia’s rising profile as one of Nigeria’s cleanest states, noting that every measure introduced is targeted at sustaining sanitation and promoting a healthier environment.
Under the new order, all commercial vehicles—including buses, tricycles, and trucks—must be fitted with waste bins. Drivers will also be required to dispose of refuse properly at designated motor parks, where larger collection bins will be installed.
Okereke revealed that while smaller bins will be placed inside buses and tricycles, bigger bins will be stationed at parks, with enforcement carried out in collaboration with transport unions to ensure compliance.
“The primary goal of this exercise is not to generate revenue through fines but to achieve full compliance and sustain the level of cleanliness already recorded,” Okereke said.
Issuing a stern warning, the ASEPA boss declared zero tolerance for violators, stating that any vehicle caught without a functional waste bin will be impounded and slammed with a N50,000 fine.
Operators have been given a two-week grace period to comply, with approved bin prices fixed at N2,000 for buses and N1,300 for tricycles.
With enforcement set to begin immediately after the deadline, the message is clear: comply or stay off the road.
