PLEASE RESTORE BACK OUR DIGNITY
The Executive Chairman
Eket Local Government Council
Esuene Way
Eket
Dear Sir,
ENVIRONMENTAL SANITATION IN EKET URBAN: OUR POSITION, OUR
SUGGESTIONS
Our attention has been drawn to the issue of
Environmental Sanitation in Eket Urban as earlier submitted in our letter dated
August 17, 2012 where we make some suggestions but nothing has been done till
date. We want to re-emphasize our earlier position that our sensibility as a
people is constantly assaulted with the mounting filth and refuse now competing
for attention and taking over our major streets and roads (e.g. Park Road,
Grace Bill Road, Hospital Road, Atabong Road, etc). The most irritating one is
the front of Eket Modern Park where refuse has been heaped in the gutter to its
brim which blocked the entire drainage system. This is very disappointing and
an embarrassment to Ekid people.
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| Drainage system at Eket Modern Motor Park |
The culture of cleanliness is fast eroding and that is
why people littered the street, dump refuse indiscriminately and take delight
in activities inimical to the well-being of the environment. Gutters and
culverts are converted into refuse dumps emitting offensive odour capable of
annihilating the entire population should an epidemic break out. These unwholesome
attitudes on the part of residents have compromised the identity, integrity and
personality of Ekid people and should not be condone. The Local Government
Council must rise up to the occasion.
In the past, there were Sanitary Inspectors who embarked
on routine inspection of homes to ensure that personal hygiene and minimum
environmental standards were adhered to. The culture of cleanliness was imbibed
and our people were sanitation conscious for fear of being arrested and
prosecuted. Our environment was clean but today the story is different, hence
the compelling needs to resuscitate our culture of cleanliness to keep our
environment tidy.
We want to submit here that improper management of waste
triggers severe environmental and health problems in our society. The majority
of diseases we experienced today are partly due to the failure to dispose of
garbage correctly. These have resulted in many devastating diseases such as
dysentery, diarrhea, scabies, typhoid and malaria becoming widespread among our
communities.
In line with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and
our objectives to promote sustainable development, we place great value on our
natural environment as a source of both physical sustenance and immeasurable
beauty to be cared for with wisdom and temperance.
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| Front of Eket Motor Park |
In a society where government is sensitive to the
wellbeing of the governed, environmental matters are not treated with kid
gloves. To this end, we again humbly make the following suggestions that:
1.
The issue of Environmental Sanitation will not
be addressed if stakeholders are not properly informed. We therefore call on
Eket Local Government Council in collaboration with different agencies to
organize a One Day Sensitization Workshop to educate the people on the need to
keep and maintain a clean environment.
2.
There should be a 3 Days Information
Dissemination Campaign through the use of public address system and radio to
intimate all residents on the Council resolve to keep a tidy environment. The message
should be taken to the nooks and crannies of Eket Urban Center and stiff
penalties spell out for non-compliance.
3.
A One Month Intensive Sanitation Exercise
tagged: OPERATION KEEP EKET CLEAN should be declared in Eket Urban. This will
enable residents to participate fully in the cleaning of their residential and business
premises, removal of their own gutters and clearing of grasses surrounding
their environment.
 |
| Litters on the street |
4.
The services of Waste Disposal outfits should be
engaged to carry all refuse on daily basis to dumping site or through Direct
Labour.
5.
An Environment Sanitation Monitoring/Enforcement
Committee should be constituted and should comprise of the following:
(1) The
Eket Legislative House Committee Chairman on Health and Environment,
(2) The
Supervisor for Health,
(3) Sanitary Inspectors,
(4.) Para-Military/Voluntary
Organizations, and
(5) Security Operatives.
The Committee shall perform the
following assignments:
1. Carry
out routine inspection of residential and business premises on daily basis.
2. Enforce
Environmental Sanitation Compliance within Eket Urban Center.
3. Arrest
and prosecute defaulters in Sanitation Court to serve as deterrent to others.
6.
Posters, banners and flyers have dirtied our
streets and should be restricted accordingly. It should be mandatory for
churches, groups, individuals and corporate organizations to remove all their
posters, flyers and banners one week after their programs or be held responsible.
I subscribe to total embargo place on pasting of posters on walls and public
places as it dirtied our environment especially during raining season.
7.
Environmental Sanitation Exercise will be an
effort in futility if there is no suitable place to dump all the refuse. We therefore
call on Eket Local Government Council to liaise with relevant authorities to
secure a permanent site for dumping of refuse if there is none.
Meanwhile, the objectives of this exercise cannot be
over-emphasized as it will;
(1.) Promote
an efficient waste disposal and collection system.
(2.) Enhances
a cleaner and healthy environment.
(3.) Improve
long term sanitation sustainability.
(4.) Inculcate
the environmental consciousness among our people, and
(5.) Prevent
pollution and epidemic break out.
With the above humble suggestions, we are much convinced
that “The Pride of Ekid” will be restored as “IDUNG MFIANWE” and the cleanest
Local Government Area which we used to be in Akwa Ibom State.
Moreover, as an organization that seeks to empower youth
to become active citizens, willing and able to influence public life and
promote open society ideals, we will partner with government, individuals and
organizations to enhance the quality of life for all members of the society. Let
us preserve our environment for our lives may depend on it.
Above all, we look forward for your prompt action.
Thank you.
UBONG DAVID
Executive Director
Eagle Builders Foundation
Cc: The Honourable Commissioner for Environment, AKS
The Public
Affairs Manager, ExxonMobil
The Leader,
Eket Legislative Council
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