By Balimwor Ekpe
The Commissioner for Environment in Cross River State, Honourable Moses Osogi has charged Cross Riverians to perpetually clean their environment for avoidance of Cholera and other diseases that emanate from air pollution.
Osogi who spoke through the permanent secretary of the ministry, Dr. Mrs. Rosemary Onah during the June environmental sanitation exercise,said the State-wide environmental sanitation exercise is an already established policy by the Government of Cross River State, which the ministry is only enforcing to bring back the hygienic aesthetics of the State. She charged Cross Riverians to keep their environment neat through cleaning the gutters, clearing waste and drainages in their environments to avoid cholera and diseases that emanate from air pollution.
She disclosed that the ministry has a department of environmental pollution control that engages in sensitizing eateries and other food vendors on basic guidelines for food preparation. Admonished the public to wash their hands after every activity embarked upon, to serve as a safety measure for prevention of cholera and other diseases in the state.
Though in some parts of Calabar such as Marian market, Bogobri, Edim Otop and Mcc where businesses were found operating during the hours of sanitation, the commissioner and the task force of the ministry who went round on thorough supervision of the exercise, apprehended the culprits, charged them to the mobile court and seized their items as punishment for breaking Government law.
Meanwhile a consultant of the ministry, Dr. Eyo Orok while speaking to press men, disclosed the procurement of waste receptors by the ministry of environment which are to be kept at different parts of Calabar for public use.
In conclusion, the commissioner thanked Cross Riverians who actively participated in the exercise and encouraged them to continue being good ambassadors of the state by continually cleaning, maintaining their environment and observing the environmental laws that are enshrined in the constitution of the state, Cross River State.
