ASEPA Intensifies Sanitation Drive, Arrests 17 for Environmental Offenses in Umuahia

ASEPA Intensifies Sanitation Drive, Arrests 17 for Environmental Offenses in Umuahia

As part of the Abia State Government’s renewed efforts to enforce sanitation regulations and promote a cleaner, healthier environment, the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) has apprehended 17 individuals in Umuahia for various environmental offenses.

The arrested offenders, made up of 7 males and 10 females, were caught engaging in acts such as indiscriminate dumping of refuse and littering, especially around public gutters and residential areas. They were promptly charged to court for violating the state’s environmental sanitation laws. The court subsequently granted each offender an option of fine as penalty.

Speaking to journalists shortly after the arrests, the Deputy Manager of ASEPA, Umuahia Zone, Catechist Ambros Jonah, who was represented by the Head of the Monitoring Unit, Mr. Marcauley Okpara, stressed that the operation was part of a broader strategy by the agency to clamp down on individuals and groups who flout sanitation laws.

According to Mr. Okpara, “This is not just about arresting offenders; it’s about protecting public health and deterring others from engaging in harmful environmental practices. The environment belongs to all of us, and when individuals choose to pollute it, they endanger the community.”

Jonah, through his representative, warned that environmental law violations would no longer be tolerated under any guise, noting that ASEPA had adopted a zero-tolerance approach to indiscriminate waste disposal in the capital and beyond.

“The law is very clear on this matter,” he said. “Dumping of refuse is strictly allowed only between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Any violation outside this window is punishable. Our monitoring teams are already conducting street-to-street inspections of gutters and other key locations to ensure strict compliance.”

He further emphasized the importance of cleanliness, hygiene, and proper waste disposal in maintaining public health, especially in urban areas where high population density can quickly turn unsanitary conditions into health hazards.

In a stern warning, the ASEPA official highlighted the recurring issue of pure water sachet littering and debris accumulation around shops, residential buildings, and marketplaces. He reiterated that such practices remain serious environmental offenses.

“Shop owners, tenants, and market traders are hereby warned. Anyone caught littering or allowing waste to accumulate around their premises will be arrested and prosecuted without delay,” he said.

ASEPA also used the opportunity to call on residents to support the government’s efforts by adopting environmentally responsible behaviors. The agency encouraged the public to report violators and to properly bag their refuse for pickup during the approved dumping hours.

The recent arrests are part of ASEPA’s wider campaign to restore sanity and order to the state’s waste management system, following concerns over blocked drainage channels, flooding, and the spread of diseases resulting from poor sanitation practices.

Environmental stakeholders across the state have lauded the agency’s actions, calling for sustained enforcement and greater public enlightenment to ensure long-term behavioral change.

With this latest crackdown, ASEPA has sent a clear message: environmental cleanliness is a shared responsibility, and offenders will be held accountable to safeguard public health and the ecosystem.