By Bonaventure Alufo
The Anambra State Ministry of Environment’s announcement of another statewide environmental sanitation exercise scheduled for Saturday, October 31, is a timely reminder that keeping our environment clean is a shared responsibility.
As is customary on the last Saturday of every month, residents are expected to suspend market activities, commercial operations and other non-essential engagements between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. to participate in the exercise. This will provide an opportunity for households, business owners and communities to clean their surroundings, clear drainage channels and properly manage waste.
The exercise should not be viewed as a government imposed inconvenience but as a collective investment in public health and environmental safety. Poor sanitation exposes communities to preventable diseases, while blocked drainage channels contribute to flooding. An untidy environment also affects the state’s appearance and can undermine its appeal to visitors, businesses and potential investors.
Government has a responsibility to provide environmental services and enforce sanitation regulations, but it cannot achieve a clean and healthy state without the active participation of residents. Every household, business owner and community has a role to play. Environmental cleanliness must become a daily habit, not an activity reserved for the last Saturday of each month.
However, the Ministry of Environment must complement public announcements with effective monitoring and enforcement. The Anambra State Waste Management Authority (ASWAMA) should also ensure that refuse gathered during the exercise is promptly evacuated to prevent waste from accumulating on roadsides and in public spaces.
Residents, on their part, must demonstrate commitment by participating fully in the exercise and maintaining clean surroundings beyond the designated hours.
As Ndi Anambra prepare for Saturday’s sanitation exercise, let us remember that a cleaner environment begins with individual responsibility and grows through collective action.
A clean Anambra is not just the government’s responsibility; it is our shared pride and our collective contribution to a healthier, safer and more liveable homeland.
Bonaventure Alufo is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
#CleanAnambra #EnvironmentalSanitation #SolutionContinues
