Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River has ordered an immediate review of environmental sanitation operations in Calabar metropolis.
Otu said in a statement on Friday by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Linus Obogo, that the sanitary situation of the city had become a cause for concern.
He said that the review became necessary because Calabar should continue to maintain its status as the cleanest city in the country.
“The city is now littered with wastes, the cleanliness status of Calabar is almost gone, we cannot just fold our arms and watch,” he said.
The governor said that every resident of the city had roles to play towards restoring the sanitary status of the city.
“Every resident should live up to their responsibilities. Our reputation in sanitation was not earned overnight, we worked for it.
“It is the product of discipline, policy consistency, and civic responsibility. We can not allow negligence to take away this reputation,” he said.
The governor further directed that henceforth, sanitation exercise should be supervised by the office of his Special Adviser on General Duties.
“This intervention is intended to ensure stricter coordination among contractors and government agencies that are responsible for waste management,
“Environmental sanitation is not a peripheral concern of government. It is central to public health, urban dignity, and the overall quality of life of the citizens.” he said.
Otu expressed displeasure at lapses arising from the attitude of some refuse contractors in the state.
He said that breakdown of mechanical tools could not be a reasonable excuse for non-evacuation of refuse.
“Operational setbacks should never translate into visible environmental neglect. Preparedness, contingency planning and prompt response are the hallmarks of responsible service providers.” he said.
