August 30, (THEWILL) — The Imo State Commissioner for Environment and Sanitation, Chief Major Emenike, has reiterated the determination of the ministry to return Imo as the cleanest State in the country.
He said that the governor, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, has been audacious in engaging stakeholders in the State to see to it that the health and well-being of Imolites remain the top priority.
Speaking when he received in audience the management team of the Eastern Waste Management Company Limited, led by the Deputy Managing Director, Nixon Oduka, in his office, the commissioner insisted that the duty of ensuring cleanliness, as well as erosion control, lies in his ministry and that he was not going to allow anything that will derail.
He maintained that this major guiding principle has led to his monitoring of the situation in every part of Imo State, especially the capital city, Owerri, to ensure that its cleanliness is adhered to by all and sundry.
Emenike told the delegation that he never knew the modus operandi of the previous team, even though he was the one who signed the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with them, and he is also the eye of the government in the activities of the waste management board.
He said, “Whatever we have to do to make sure that Imo State returns to its former glory of the cleanest state in Nigeria must be done. This ministry is not going to accept anything other than this. We are confident that the governor, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodimma, is serious about it and is doing everything to make it work, which is why he came up with this package, and I believe that we will get it right.
“We must work together to ensure that the dream and desire of the governor is established. He is passionate about the health of the people. We must look at bringing back the monthly sanitation exercise and other collaborations that will remove waste from our streets and environs.
“I am happy that you have come here with your team. This is what ought to be done. All your announcements and public engagements in writing must be with the knowledge of this ministry. This is because it is this ministry that the people of the state know. If they feel something is wrong, it is the commissioner they will call. So I assure you that our doors are open to you all the time. Whatever you need from us, do not hesitate.
“We have experts in this ministry who will assist you to work seamlessly and achieve results. We will make them available to you. They have knowledge and expertise on how to make things work perfectly. The Permanent Secretary is also well-versed and will always listen to you all the time.”
Earlier, the leader of the delegation and Deputy Managing Director of the Eastern Waste Management Company Limited, EWAMAC, Dr Nixon Oduka, said they came to introduce the management team and also seek collaboration with the ministry.
He explained that with his many years in waste management and disposal, which spanned many years across many countries, he was well aware that his activities revolved around the Ministry of Environment and Sanitation and that he was aware of the huge human resources available there.
Oduka explained that what he met on ground was nothing to write home about, but that he had put those setbacks behind him, adding that so far he has covered lots of ground in ensuring that he met his set objectives, adding that he had come to appeal for additional manpower to make the job easier.
He praised the governor for his vision in ensuring that the Imo reclaims its position as the cleanest state and that he was determined not only to ensure that EWAMAC becomes a household name in Imo, but that it becomes the major destination of the other states in the South East.
