Over two hundred persons have been arrested and tried for defaulting Anambra state environmental laws.

 

The individuals were arrested and tried at Magistrate Court, Awka and other mobile courts that sat in different parts of Awka.

 

Correspondent Chibuzor Obidike highlights activities that occurred during last Saturday sanitation exercise and reports that they were arrested last Saturday during the statewide compulsory monthly sanitation exercise.

Those found guilty were either fined or compelled to perform one community service or both.

 

The August edition of the monthly sanitation exercise was remarkable as enforcement was intensified in many parts of the state and major markets, parks and shopping malls complied to the directive.

Pedestrians who defied the compliances were forced to trek distances to beat the enforcement of sanitation within the hours of the exercise while some others were apprehended to face the full wrath of the law.

 

Speaking to the ABS, the Anambra state Commissioner for Environment, Engineer Felix Odimegwu said the season of neglecting the environment and waiting for the government are gone as every onye Anambra and visitor will be held accountable for their environment.

He called on stakeholders in communities not to disobey government orders, as the law is not respecter of persons, wondering why Governor Chukwuma Soludo and Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe will be involved in sanitation exercise and some individuals will continuously default on the directive.

 

For the Transition Committee Chairman of Awka South, Mr ThankGod Anagor, the success of the August edition is as a result of Governor Soludo’s determination in ensuring that people take responsibility of their environment and the inauguration of waste management committees in all the council areas.

On his part, a resident of Awka, Engineer Patrick Ezenachi commended the commitment of Governor Soludo to reclaiming the environment which he advised Ndi Anambra to key into as it is for the betterment of the state.