The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Mr. Eshiet Ikpe has called on companies operating in Akwa Ibom State to lend their support to the state-wide monthly sanitation exercise.
Mr. Ikpe who made the call in a chat with newsmen after a city-wide inspection of compliance by Uyo residence with the exercise last Saturday said companies like Julius Berger, Gitto Construction Company, Nigerpets Structures, Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited and a host of others (big and small) operating in the state should participate in the monthly sanitation exercise as part of their corporate social responsibility, noting that these companies have benefited a lot from the state and so should look for ways to give back to the society.
He said they could do this by releasing their vehicles, trucks and personnel to help in the evacuation of refuse which usually poses a challenge during and after every sanitation exercise.
On the general turn out and compliance by the Uyo residents the Permanent Secretary who inspected work at Urua Kpokpo at Ikot Oku Ikono, Urua Ikot Ambang, Akpan Andem market, AKTC park and mini dump site along Nwaniba road, said he was impressed by the general level of compliance by the residents of the state capital, adding however that he was not happy with traders at Akpan Andem market and those at Udua Kpokpo who were seen displaying their wares and transacting business during the period of the exercise.
On how he felt about the revolt of Akwa Ibom Transport Company (AKTC) against the exercise and the monitoring team, the Permanent Secretary expressed shock that a company named after the state and known by all as being owned by government could exhibit such non-challant attitude toward government programmes.
He however said he had forgiven them for, according to him, they did not know what they did but cautioned the company to exercise proper control over its workforce and ensure that restriction of movement, work and other non-cleaning activities during the period of the sanitation is loyally complied with.
It was an unfortunate drama at the AKTC Park when the Permanent Secretary and his monitoring team made up of ministry officials, security operatives and journalists were locked in by protesting staff of the company who refused to let the team out of the gate claiming that the team had no right to “invade” their park.
Although none of the management/administrative staff agreed to speak with the press, it was gathered from what the protesters were saying that there was a misinformation to the workers that one of the ticketers had been arrested and was about to be taken away. But on realizing that nobody was arrested they opened the gate and freed their “hostage”.
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