Dr.Okey Dike, GM, Imo Entraco
The Imo State Government has responded to litany of complains which has trailed the cancellation of the Monthly Environmental Clean up Exercise in the State.
The Director General, Imo State Environmental Transformation Commission (Imo Entraco), Dr. Okey Dike, told Imo Trumpeta in an exclusive interview, that the Okorocha Administration resolved to make clean up a daily exercise rather than a monthly ritual.
He said that the monthly Clean Up has been overtaken by time and trend, saying it is irrelevant in a system that demands daily cleaning exercise. He said with the determination of the present Government to rid the State of filth, it is important every imolite is encouraged to engage in daily Clean Up activity.
The Entraco Chief debunked claims in some quarters that Owerri is now a city filled with filth and refuse, stressing that Entraco being the regulatory body that supervises refuse disposal in Owerri and environ, have taken proactive measures to ensure Owerri metropolis remains clean and devoid of refuse heaps.
He said ‘As I speak to you, go toDouglas Road, you will see that the rubbish there has been removed. We have also evacuated the garbage at Item Street, Relief Market, World Bank, Hardel Junction, IBC quarters, shoe factory, Madonna Secondary school, beside Dan Anyiam Stadium, Dick Tiger. You will notice that the refuse heaps there have all been removed. So you can see that we are serious in the task of removing refuse and keeping the city clean’
Dike expressed regret that some politicians in the State have politicized the issue of refuse disposal in the State, stating that at the moment, the State Government is working hard to ensure an efficient refuse management system.
‘We are working hard to ensure we move away from waste management. We are now thinking of waste conversion. We want to see how we can transform our waste to things that will benefit us. This is why we have introduced bagging of refuse’ the Entraco chief noted.
He added that touting has also been effectively curtailed in the State, while the commission has rolled out stiffer measures to checkmate street trading.
He said ‘from Monday (Yesterday), those who patronize street traders and hawkers will be dealt with. We have observed that most hawkers refused to leave the streets because they are patronized by motorists’
