Epidemic looms in Imo State, as Owerri, the State capital has been taken over by mountains of refuse dumps, as nearly all the streets of the Town have been turned to dumping sites.
Our roving Reporters who took a study of the ugly situation said that the condition is the same all over the State, but particularly Owerri, the State capital due to the heavy population of the town as residents throw out the bins out.
In Owerri, places that were usually not for dumping of refuse have suddenly become refuse dumps, and they have not only turned an eye sore to Owerri that used to be the cleanest town in Nigeria, but poses a risk as it could cause epidemic in the State.
Common sights of Refuse heaps are at Madonna Secondary School, Fire Service Roundabout, Government Technical School GTC, Owerri, Fidelity Bank/Florida Bookshop junction, Wethral/Cherubum junction Tetlow Road, Hardel and Enic junction Orji, Spibat Road, IMSU Gate, Jefnic Restaurant/Nwaturuocha Junction etc.
The story is the same at World Bank, Egbeada, Trans Egbu, Aladinma, Ikenegbu Estates all in Owerri.
Residents who bomdarded Trumpeta Newspaper with calls appealed to the State Governor, Hon Emeka Ihedioha to please direct those incharge of waste disposal in the State to wake up to their assignment before the situation gets out of hand.
They lamented that at the beginning of the Ihedioha administration, Imo residents heaved a seigh of relief with quick response to waste disposal, but they regretted that the situation has so degenerated that it is relapsing back to the Owelle Rochas Okorocha era, when refuse dumps “decorated” all the streets in Owerri.
However, sources who spoke to Trumpeta said that Ihedioha does not joke with Imo State Environment, which led his administration to make the appointment of ENTRACO General Manger, Hon Alex Emeziem (Jnr) one of the first in his administration.
Trumpeta also learnt that Ihedioha also directed that ENTRACO Coordinators be appointed in the Twenty seven Local Government Areas of the State.
“The Governor ordered that 27 ENTRACO Coordinators be appointed for the LGAs to over-see the job of keeping the State clean” the source said.
However, many of the ENTRACO Coordinators who spoke to our Reporters said they are yet to receive salaries, the same for their Ward Coordinators.
“The morale of most of Coordinators are low following the treatment being meted to them. Till date, we have not received a kobo as either salary or Allowance” an ENTRACO Coordinator from Orlu zone told Trumpeta.
When Trumpeta called ENTRACO Media Consultant, Chief Chris Nwokocha, his phone rang repeatedly and he never bothered to return the call.
Meanwhile, one of our Roving Reporters said that the ENTRACO GM, and Special Adviser SA on Sanitation to the Governor of Imo State, Hon Alex Emeziem (Jnr) has issued a Press Release where he acknowledged the deplorable environmental condition of Imo State, and pleaded that his Agency would tackle the menace within a few days.
