Awka LG frowns at waste dumping around new Anambra Govt House

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New Government House at Awka

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By Madu Obi

The Awka South local government council has launched an intensive enforcement and public awareness campaign to maintain a clean and healthy environment around the newly constructed Anambra State Government House.

The council's initiative was in response to growing concerns over indiscriminate waste disposal in the vicinity barely few days after the seat of power moved to the new complex.

Executive Chairman of Awka South, Prince Chinedu Okafor, who led a team of sanitation officers to the Government House and its surroundings, warned against illegal dumping of refuse.

According to him, "Anyone found dumping refuse indiscriminately will be fined ₦50,000, emphasizing that maintaining a clean environment is a top priority, especially given the elevated status of the new Government House.

Okafor said the Council has discovered several illegal dumping sites around the new Government House and has begun clearing them, assuring that after the awareness campaign, full enforcement would commence.

"This place must be clean and orderly. To facilitate proper waste disposal, the Council will strategically place waste bins throughout the area", he said.

Okafor warned scavengers who rummage through bagged waste in search of scrap metal that they would also face fines of ₦50,000 if caught tampering with properly bagged refuse at designated sites.

He urged residents to bag their waste properly and ensure timely payment of sanitation fees through the official council account.

He also cautioned against making cash payments to individuals, stating, "Anyone who gives cash to an individual claiming to collect sanitation fees has simply gifted them money."

The convener of the Recover Nigeria Project, Comrade Osita Obi, expressed strong support for the council's efforts, praising the Mayor for his proactive response. "No one has the right to generate waste and discard it on the streets," Obi said.