By Oyem Jonathan
As the 2025 World Environmental Health Day is commemorated today, the Executive Chairman of Aniocha South Local Government Council, Hon. Pastor Jude Chukwunwike, has called on residents to adopt sustainable sanitary practices and shun lifestyles that compromise public health and environmental well-being.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony held at the Council Secretariat, Ogwashi-Uku, the Chairman, represented by the Vice Chairman, Hon. Mrs. Patricia Ekwutozam Adolue, and accompanied by the Legislative Leader, Hon. Leonard Nzemeke, and the Secretary of Council, Hon. Prince Tony Ebube, emphasized that environmental health remains at the core of his administration’s agenda.
He reiterated that while the government-approved “last Saturday of every month” for environmental sanitation, clean-up exercise remains a statutory civic duty. He said his administration has gone further by institutionalizing deliberate measures to ensure environmental sustainability.
These include compulsory waste evacuation at the Ogwashi-Uku market and designated collection points across the council; continuous desilting of drainages; clearing of walkways, and removal of overgrown vegetation to improve ventilation and sanitation.
“A clean environment is the bedrock of a healthy society. Our administration will continue to create safe spaces where residents can thrive physically, socially, and economically. But we cannot do this alone, we need collective responsibility and citizen engagement to sustain the gains of environmental cleanliness,” Pastor Chukwunwike charged.
The Supervisory Councilor for Environment, Hon. Chika Kelly Edozie; the Head of Department, Environment, Sanitarian Mrs. Ngozi Enubuzor; House Committee Chairman on Environment, Hon. Okpunor Fidelis; and the Legislative Leader, Hon. Leonard Nzemeke, all echoed the need for community ownership of the environment. They stressed that improved sanitation, proper waste management, and environmentally friendly lifestyles remain the most effective safeguards against disease outbreaks and environmental degradation.
They urged households, markets, schools, religious centers, and business premises to imbibe hygiene consciousness as a culture, not just as an obligation tied to government directives.
Present during the flag off ceremony were the S.A. to the Chairman, Mr. John Odiaka; the Council’s Information Officer, Mr. Sammy Okonta; the Supervisory Councilor for Works, Comrade Chekwume Okonji; his health counterpart, Comrade Austin Unorchie; the Supervisory Councilor for Education, Comrade Victor Dike, among others. They pledged support in ensuring that sanitation policies align with wider governance efforts across education, healthcare, and infrastructure.
