By Oyem Jonathan
The Executive Chairman of Aniocha South Local Government Council, Hon. Pastor Jude Chukwunwike , has appealed to residents of the council area to consolidate the environmental sanitation culture laid by his administration, warning that declining compliance threatens public health, environmental sustainability, and urban safety.
The Chairman expressed concern over field observations during the January 2026 edition of the monthly sanitation exercise, noting that participation levels were significantly below expectations.
He emphasized that sanitation is no longer a ceremonial obligation but a core component of preventive public health and environmental risk management.
Speaking through the Vice Chairman, Hon. Patricia Adolue, while monitoring the exercise at Kwale Junction Motor Park along the Ughelli-Asaba Expressway, Pastor Chukwunwike condemned the conduct of commuters and commercial cyclists who flout government approved sanitation hours, undermining regulatory efforts aimed at environmental orderliness.
He further decried the indiscriminate disposal of solid waste along major roads and unauthorized locations, describing it as a direct violation of environmental standards and a catalyst for drainage obstruction, flooding, and disease outbreaks as the rainy season approaches.
The Chairman urged residents to proactively desilt drainages, clear surrounding bushes, and improve the sanitary conditions of homes and business premises, stressing that effective waste management and environmental hygiene are shared civic responsibilities essential to sustainable development.
In a decisive policy directive, he instructed the Department of Environment to intensify preventive enforcement mechanisms, strengthen compliance monitoring, and implement proactive measures capable of forestalling environmental degradation and breakdown of established waste management protocols.
The sanitation exercise witnessed the presence of the Legislative Leader, Hon. Leonard Nzemeke, alongside councillors, the Council Secretary, and other local government appointees who jointly monitored compliance across designated areas.
Also on ground were officials of the National Youth Council of Nigeria Aniocha South chapter, the Red Cross Society, the Mobile Court, vigilante groups, and security agencies, all deployed to enforce adherence to environmental regulations and ensure orderly conduct throughout the exercise.
The Chukwunwike administration reaffirmed its commitment to building a cleaner, healthier, and environmentally resilient Aniocha South, calling on residents to align with global best practices in environmental stewardship and collective responsibility.
