Gov Eno Vows To Retain Akwa Ibom As Nigeria’s Cleanest State

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno, has reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to keeping the state as Nigeria’s cleanest, while also promoting it as the nation’s top tourism destination.

Governor Eno made this declaration while monitoring the February edition of the state’s monthly environmental sanitation exercise in various parts of Uyo, the state capital. He expressed satisfaction with the high level of compliance and positive results from the initiative.

Speaking at the Itam Junction flyover, the Governor praised the cleanliness and hospitality of the Akwa Ibom people, which he believes has contributed to the state earning the Cleanliness Performance Index (CPI) award as Nigeria’s cleanest state for six consecutive years.

“If you know anything about an Akwa Ibom person, you can tell that we are clean people. I believe we should continue to maintain that,” he said, emphasizing the importance of retaining the title of the cleanest state.

Governor Eno also commended the work done by the Uyo Capital City Development Authority (UCCDA) in enhancing the aesthetic appearance of the Itam Flyover, highlighting how the design reflects Akwa Ibom’s rich cultural heritage. He urged that the aesthetic improvements be preserved and not vandalized.

“I’m very proud of what I have seen here. Akwa Ibom is growing rapidly toward becoming Nigeria’s top tourism destination, and I am confident we will achieve that,” he added.

During the sanitation exercise, 158 individuals were arrested for violating the state’s environmental laws. Despite a high level of compliance, some residents were caught not participating and were swiftly apprehended by the task force teams deployed across the state.

The offenders were brought before the Environmental Sanitation Court in Uyo, where they were charged under Section 39 of the Akwa Ibom State Public Health Law.

In a notable incident, some defaulters from other ethnic groups attempted to stall proceedings by claiming they did not understand English. An interpreter was called in to translate, ensuring the court proceedings continued smoothly.

In her ruling, Senior Magistrate Amanda Effiom imposed various penalties on the offenders, including community service ranging from three to five days, and fines between N3,000 and N12,000.