In line with Governor Godwin Obaseki’s mandate of making Edo State the cleanest state in Nigeria, the State Government has flagged off the ongoing MEGA cleanup campaign in Egor Local Government Area in Benin City.
The Mega cleanup exercise which took place in Ogida Market was led by the Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability, Arc. Joshua Omokhodion, with staff of the Waste Management Board, Environmental Health Officers, among others.
Speaking during the exercise, Omokhodion said that Governor Obaseki has promised to bequeath an environment that will be attractive to both investors and residents to thrive, hence the need to continue the sanitation in the 18 local government areas in the state.
The Commissioner explained that people can only be wealthy when they are healthy and called on residents to dump their wastes properly, clean their surroundings, bag properly and ensure they engage the services of an accredited waste manager for easy evacuation.
He urged all stakeholders to join hands with government to ensure the state is clean, safe and healthy for all its citizens, adding that the MEGA cleanup exercise is a continuous one.
On his part, the General Manager, Edo State Waste Management Board, Mr. Charles Imahriagbe, explained that the cleanup exercise had come to stay, warning that shops that do not comply during the sanitation hours will be shut down till they do.
“We are calling on Edo people to take responsibility by participating actively in the exercise. The enforcement team is already arresting offenders for prosecution,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Head of Environmental Health Department, Egor Local Government Council, Sanitarian Mrs. Evelyn Ediagbonya, applauded the ministry for the initiative and pledged the local government’s support in ensuring traders and residents comply with healthy environmental practices, with the aim of organizing continuous enlightenment campaigns for traders and residents on ways they can keep their environment healthy.
