February sanitation: 158 defaulters arrested, arraigned in Akwa Ibom

No fewer than 158 persons were on Saturday arrested across Akwa Ibom State for flouting the February edition of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise.

Despite the high level of compliance recorded across the state, some residents were caught violating extant environmental laws and were apprehended by the task force teams deployed to various locations.

The offenders were immediately arraigned before the Environmental Sanitation Court in Uyo, the state capital.

Recall that the Akwa Ibom State Government, in a widely publicized notice dated February 18, 2025, and signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prince Enobong Uwah, had announced the restriction of movement during the environmental sanitation exercise.

The notice urged residents and commuters passing through the state to comply with the directive in the collective effort to maintain a clean environment, warning that defaulters would face prosecution in the sanitation court.

Presiding over the cases, Senior Magistrate Amanda Effiom charged the accused with failing to participate in the monthly sanitation exercise organized by the Akwa Ibom State Government on Saturday, February 22, 2025, a violation punishable under Section 39 of the Akwa Ibom State Public Health Law.

While some pleaded guilty, others denied the charges, leading to further proceedings.

However, a mild drama played out in court when some defaulters from other major ethnic groups in Nigeria allegedly feigned ignorance of the English language in an attempt to stall proceedings, prompting the court to engage an interpreter for translation.

The learned Senior Magistrate handed down various penalties, including community service within the court premises and on major roads in Uyo, ranging from three to five days, while others were given the option of fines between ₦3,000 and ₦12,000.

Speaking to newsmen after the court session, Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency (AKSEPWMA), Obong (Dr.) Prince Ikim, expressed concern over the continued disregard for sanitation laws by some residents.

He wondered why some individuals still chose to violate the law despite Governor Umo Eno personally leading the exercise alongside security agencies and other stakeholders.

Obong Ikim stated that his agency had exhausted the first two phases; Education and Enlightenment, and was now fully implementing the third E, which is Enforcement.

The Environmental Boss reaffirmed the commitment of the Umo Eno-led administration to maintaining a clean and healthy environment, urging residents to take sanitation seriously as a civic responsibility rather than a forced obligation.

Meanwhile, this month’s exercise, which was carried out with full restriction of human and vehicular movement between 7:00 am and 10:00 am, had Governor Umo Eno actively participating.

The flag-off took place at the Udo Udoma–Osongama traffic light junction, with the AKSEPWMA Chairman, the Commissioner of Police, CP Baba Mohammed Azare, fsi, and other heads of security agencies in the State leading the cleanup walk through Oron Road and Wellington Bassey Way.

Also present at the exercise were board members and management of AKSEPWMA, winners of the recently concluded AKSEPWMA essay competition, traditional rulers, and other key stakeholders.

Culled from the Media Unit of AKPSEPWMA

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