Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
The Abia State Government has announced April 1 as the commencement date for enforcing the compulsory use of waste bins in commercial vehicles operating across the state.
The policy, approved at a State Executive Council meeting chaired by Governor Alex Otti, is part of efforts to sustain improved environmental cleanliness.
Announcing the development, the Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu, said the measure would promote proper waste disposal among passengers and curb roadside littering.
“This is to enhance cleanliness across the state. Enforcement begins April 1,” he said.
The initiative will be driven by the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA), which has intensified sanitation enforcement in recent months, including sealing erring businesses.
The government said the policy would build on gains recorded since the declaration of a waste management emergency in the state.
It added that the directive is a necessary step to consolidate Abia’s image as a cleaner state—a claim recently echoed by visiting cleric, Paul Eneche.
Beyond enforcement, the government is also expanding its waste-to-wealth programme, with recycling plants already operating in Aba and along the Enugu–Port Harcourt Expressway. Plans are also underway to convert organic waste into fuel.
The General Manager of ASEPA, Mazi Ogbonnia Okereke, who disclosed this, urged residents to support the initiative, warning against indiscriminate dumping, particularly in Umuahia.
