The Executive Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, has called on all citizens and residents to take ownership of their environment and embrace sanitary practices that contribute to our collective health.
The Governor made the call during the official restoration of house-to-house sanitary inspection services which was long abandoned in the state by previous administrations. Represented by his Deputy, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, FNSE, Governor Otti noted that the restoration of house-to-house sanitary inspections is a proactive measure to ensure a cleaner Abia State, thereby enhancing public health and environmental quality.
“This is more than just an environmental initiative, it is a return to the fundamental values of public health, personal responsibility, and community hygiene that once defined our great state.
He assured of his administration’s commitment to providing the necessary resources, tools, and training to ensure the success of the initiative aimed at improving environmental health, and preventing outbreaks of communicable diseases such as cholera, malaria, typhoid among others.
“Let me assure you that this government will provide the resources, tools, and training needed to make this initiative effective. Environmental Health Officers will be well-equipped and guided by professionalism, compassion, and dedication.
Governor Otti urged traditional rulers, religious leaders, youth, women’s groups, market unions, and the media to join hands with the government to promote practices that will lead to a healthier environment for ourselves and future generations. He called for the reclamation of the values of hygiene, order, and civic pride that our communities were once known for, noting that the initiative will benefit investment, tourism, and community health.
“To our traditional rulers, religious leaders, and community stakeholders; I call on you to support this initiative and help mobilize awareness in your domains. Let us bring back the days when our homes and streets were the envy of the region.
Delivering his welcome address, the Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Philemon Ogbonna described the restoration of sanitary inspection services as not just a policy decision, but a decisive leap forward in our journey towards building a healthier, cleaner, and more resilient Abia.
He regretted that “for too long our communities have suffered the consequences of poor environmental hygiene, ranging from indiscriminate waste disposal, stagnant water, overgrown premises to unhealthy living conditions”. This he said, has ripple effects, visible in the cases of preventable diseases, clogged drains, polluted surroundings, and a general decline in public health standards.
He noted that environmental health officers who are trained to guide and assess, will resume visits to homes, markets, schools, and premises to ensure compliance with sanitation standards and to assist residents with the information and encouragement they need to do the right thing.
In their separate speeches, Mazi Ogbonna Okereke, the General Manager of Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA), and Mr. Ikechukwu Oriuwa, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, commended Governor Otti’s focus on cleanliness in Abia. They encouraged various community and religious leaders, and other stakeholders to take civic responsibility in maintaining this restoration, highlighting that individual health impacts the health of the community and that prevention is preferable to treatment.
They also reminded sanitary inspectors that their roles are not for profit but require serious commitment to adhere to World Health Organisation standards.
Earlier in his goodwill message, Sanitarian Obieze Adimuko, President of the Environmental Health Officers’ Association of Nigeria, Abia State Chapter, expressed gratitude to Governor Alex Otti for restarting sanitary inspections in the state. He acknowledged that the initiative would enhance environmental health and strengthen the role of environmental health officers in preventative medicine.
Adimuko also commended the Governor for various developmental projects, such as building more health centers, extending retirement for health workers to 65 years of age, and ensuring CONHESS payments for primary health care workers. He emphasized their commitment to the success of these initiatives and urged the Governor to lift the hiring freeze on qualified Environmental Health Officers and provide additional resources for their work.
The event attracted top government officials, traditional rulers and environmental health officers.
Sir Cyril Chukwudi Eke Mba, KSJI
Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor of Abia State
June 26, 2025.
