Traders, markets and motor park unions in Umuahia have been warned to assist the Abia State government in ensuring a clean environment and its attendant health implications.

The state Commissioner for Environment, Philemon Asonye Ogbonna, handed down the admonition in Umuahia while monitoring the June edition of the state monthly environmental cleanup exercise, advising traders, “You are not getting it right.”

He said, “It is not only you trading in the state, there are others. Why can’t you sacrifice just three hours to clean your environment? You are not doing it for anybody but for yourself.”

He warned that the state government will no longer tolerate the attitude of ignoring the exercise, stating that violators will be sanctioned.

Also advising motor park unions and associations, Ogbonna described them as part of the state government and should assist in the exercise.

He said Governor Alex Otti administration is not punitive in nature, but one with a human face, urging them to continue to imbibe the spirit of cleanliness and continue to get their environment and gullies clean.

He added, “It is always good to do your part, and anybody who deviates, is an enemy of the government. Let the parks follow us to do the exercise.  Please, let all hands be on deck.  Let us work together. Nobody is bigger than the government. Let us cooperate.”

The Chairman of the Abia State House of Assembly Committee on Environment, Hon. Kalu Mba, described the exercise as combined teamwork and expressed his opinion that the day’s cleanup exercise was impressive and commended Abians for trooping out en mass to make the state work, having achieved 50 per cent of the aim of the monthly exercise.

Senior Special Assistant on Environment,  Prof. Ijeoma Iheukwumere advised shop owners to ensure that their dirty environment is cleaned, reminding them that cleaning their environment should not be monthly only, but also a regular exercise.

Many who contravened the exercise were arrested.