In spite of non-restriction of vehicular and human movements, residents across Akwa Ibom State on Saturday observed the usual monthly sanitation exercise.
Recall that the State Government on Friday, in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy; Comrade Ini Ememobong, had lifted the restriction order it earlier placed on human and vehicular movements due to the ongoing Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
In a brief interaction with news men on Saturday before the commencement of the exercise, the Chairman of the State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency ( AKSEPWAMA), Obong (Hon.) Prince Akpan Ikim, advised residents to observe the monthly exercise by keeping their surroundings clean.
However, visits to the major roads and streets of the Uyo metropolis, including; Wellington Bassey Way, Ikot Ekpene Road, Abak Road down to Ikot Oku Ikono flyover, Idoro Road, Calabar Itu Highway, Nwaniba Road, Edet Akpan Avenue, Nsikak Eduok Avenue, among others, showed that the turnout was quite impressive.
Residents were seen cutting grasses, clearing the drains in front of their abodes and disposing of their garbages at nearby dump points while Supervisors, evacuators and other officials of AKSEPWMA had a field day monitoring, evacuating and transporting all debris to the dump site on Uyo Village Road.
Some residents who spoke with our team of media professionals said they carried out the exercise as usual knowing full well that a clean and healthy environment is important to individual health.
Meanwhile, officials of the agency will from today (Saturday) continue the evacuation of all waste kept on different streets and roads up until Tuesday when mop up exercise will commence and last throughout the weekend.
