Abia govt warns sanitary Inspectors against extortion, begins campaign for tree planting

From Henrietta Ashikodi, Umuahia
Abia State Government has warned Sanitary Inspectors, inspecting house to house against extortion, adding that so far about 4,500 premises, cutting across 85 communities in the state in August alone have been visited by the Health Officers.
The Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu revealed this on Monday at Government House Umuahia, while briefing the press on the outcome of this week’s State Executive Council meeting presided over by Governor Alex Otti.
It would be recalled that Sanitary Inspectors were reintroduced and launched in Abia state across the 17 LGAs in August, 2025 by Otti’s administration.with it’s major mandate. For Abia to come out as the cleanest state in the country,
He cautioned the sanitary inspectors not to use their positions or offices as an avenue to extort money from the citizens, but rather to insist on the payment of established environmental default fines only.
Prince Kanu revealed that following the state government’s decision to go green, in view of the environmental benefits involved, the Abia State Executive Council has approved the statewide tree planting campaign.
The Information boss highlighted the importance of tree planting to include: improvement on the climatic conditions in the state, reduction of erosion, reduction in flooding, positioning of the state as a modern and sustainable state among others.
Following NIMET’s early warning flood alert, Prince Kanu, said the state is working round the clock in several parts of Aba and Umuahia to ensure that blocked drains are properly drained.

Kanu announced that on the 25th of September 2025, Abia state would join the rest of the world to celebrate this year’s World Cleanup Day.

He noted that ASEPA is working with different stakeholder groups and partners to ensure a successful celebration of this year’s version of the World Cleanup exercise.
The Commissioner hinted that Abia State Government is committed to recruiting qualified health professionals into its healthcare sector through transparent processes. He said that the recruitment exercise is progressing very well adding that at the onset, about 2,035 applications were received, while 1,752 applicants were shortlisted. 1,404 applicants completed the CBT assessment test, staged in two cohorts.
Speaking also, the Chairman Abia State Civil Service Commission, Pastor Mrs Eno Jerry-Eze revealed that the recruitment process has been transparent and would continue to be transparent adding that they are committed to ensuring that governor Otti vision and dream of a new Abia is also implemented even in the recruitment process.
Contributing, the Commissioner for Environment, Philemon Ogbonna hinted that sanitation and inspection services were moribund during past administration in the state, and has been restored by Governor Otti, He stressed the  need for all to join hands with the government to achieve the objectives of the reintroduction of sanitary inspectors.
“The objective of the government is not to generate revenue, but to make sure our environment is clean. So the sanitation inspectors have a duty to make sure that they do their job professionally.
“Of course, the reason why the government has put on a policy of imprest to all the 17 Local Government Environmental Health Officers, is to make sure, there is no reason they will go and extort their communities,” The commissioner said.
Answering questions, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Ferdinand Ekeoma disclosed that the services of the sanitary inspectors should not be used for extortion. of innocent citizens given the regular outbreak of diseases we are experiencing these days, stressing that they should attach serious importance to this.
It’s in the interest of everyone, especially the rural dwellers that our homes and environment be kept clean. He appeal to the media to help publicize it and make the people understand that this is in their own interest.
Speaking also, the Chairman Abia State Civil Service Commission, Pastor Mrs Eno Jerry-Eze revealed that the recruitment process has been transparent and would continue to be transparent adding that they are committed to ensuring that governor Otti vision and dream of a new Abia is also implemented even in the recruitment process.