By Kelechi Ugo-08065188251
No doubt, Owerri, the capital city of Imo State has not returned to its known neatness since the government of former Governor Rochas Okorocha truncated "Clean and Green" initiative in 2011.
Narrating the history of Owerri is not yet the topic to be discussed here, but we cannot easily forget that an average Owerri Nchi Ise man is known for neatness and humorous way of accommodating strangers.
Meanwhile, the "Clean and Green" initiative was the brainchild of the former Governor Ikedi Ohakim who just ruled Imo State for one single term, between 2007 and 2011 when his struggle to be re-elected hited the brick wall.
However, the then Governor initiated that policy so as to aid cleanliness of Owerri and Imo State at large. Ohakim's government procured quontum heavy duty trucks for constant evacuation of refuse dumps all over the State throughout his tenure in the office.
The then IROMA and Environmental Transformation Commission (ENTRACO) worked hand-in-glove in ensuring regular and proper sanitation of Imo and its environs.
It would be recalled that every household then had branded "Clean and Green waste bins. Whereas buckets of refuse dumps were strategically kept where IROMA trucks always come and evacuate them. Gutters were constantly desilted. Last Saturday of every month was adopted as environmental sanitation otherwise called clean-up exercise where citizens clean-up their environment between 7:00am and 10:00am. There were green verges,trees along the major Streets of Owerri that shaded pedstrains from hash sunshine.
To the greatest surprise of every concern occupants of Imo State,those IROMA trucks vanished when Okorocha took over as the governor. Then, avalanches of refuse were littered all over the streets. ENTRACO was assigned with the responsibility of sensitizing the State. As if that was not enough, Okorocha brought in consultants for which he told Imo people that they will turn the waste into wealth through recycling the bye products. That project did not see the light of the day,rather it killed the monthly clean-up exercise in Imo State. We should not easily forget that heaps of refuse dump blocked the popular Douglas dual carriage Road during Okorocha's administration until he left office.
Interestingly, the former Governor Emeka Ihedioha who assumed office on 29th May,2019 tried to bring back neatness in Imo State by appointing one of his predecessors,former Governor Ohakim to head monthly clean-up exercise only lasted 7 months in the office before Supreme Court sacked him on 14 January,2020 and brought in Governor Hope Uzodimma of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
Recalled also that former Governor Ikedi Ohakim had led combined team of journalists, workers of ENTRACO and operatives of Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps,NSCDC to inspect the clean-up exercise within Okigwe,Orlu and Owerri Zones severally before the end of Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioha's short-lived tenure in the office. Road sweepers are not forgotten, they never protested over non payment of their stipends during Ihedioha's watch as the governor.
Currently,Imo Government House Gate, Owerri has turned protesting ground for the Road Sweepers under the watch of Governor Hope Uzodimma.
Hon. Mrs. Kate Osigwe who was coordinating the Road Sweepers resigned because of Government's deft ears to the stipends of the indigent Sweepers.
Yes, another agency assigned with the responsibility of evacuating refuse dumps known as Imo State Waste Management Agency,ISWAMA has germinated,but the usual saying,"beautiful Women can only be selected during harmattan season" should be adopted in rating the performances of ISWAMA. A brief glimpse at Owerri Streets during rain season will irritate you.
There are current abandoned refuse dumps where mad people and street beggars deficate openly at odd hours within Owerri metropolis. The occupants of Owerri seemed not to be perceiving the unpleasant oudur of the indiscriminate refuse dumps now because of the harmattan season,but if nothing is done now,it may spread diseases during the approaching rain season.
A visit to Egbeada,Orlu-Owerri Road and Human Kingdom Estate all in Owerri metropolis revealed that ISWAMA never visited those areas,let alone evacuating refuse dumps around there.
The Chairman of Human Kingdom Estate,Prince Oti narrated how they always task themselves to raise fund and hire trucks to evacuate refuse dumps in their area.
While the Managing Director of ISWAMA,Barr. Kelechi Emekaraoha sometime last year told journalists that his Agency will soon extend its operation to every part of the State.
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