Some Benin residents turned out in their numbers in parts of Ikpoba-Okha local government area, to observe the recently reintroduced monthly environmental sanitation exercise.
The bright and sunny weather that prevailed over Benin-City on Saturday morning ensured that residents were able to come out of their houses to clean cut grasses and desilt the drainage to ensure a healthy environment.
While some streets in ohovbe quarters in Aduwawa looked deserted with one or two people seen outside, residents of other streets could be seen in their numbers cleaning their neighbourhood in a joint effort.
One of such streets is obiehon, in ohovbe, Ikpoba-Okha local government, where the chairman of the street, Mr Thomas iboyi and a resident lauded Governor Monday Okpebholo for reintroducing the sanitation exercise.
The popular Aduwawa market could only remind one of the lock down during the covid 19 pandemic, as the stalls were empty, with traders waiting at home till ten o’clock when the restriction of movement would have been over.
The ever busy Benin-Auchi road was not left out as only vehicles of people on essential duty were allowed access at road blocks mounted by men of the Nigeria Police Force, and Edo State Security Corps, to ensure total compliance to restriction of movement during the exercise.
Mr Frank Odigonma, a 2 IC with the state Security corps, told Radio Nigeria that the combined team of the Nigeria Police Force and the state security Corp were on the major road to enforce restriction of vehicular movement, as well as provide security to residents during the exercise.
Some youths, including Messrs Festus Philip and Ibiam Udu, told Radio Nigeria that they came out to support the work of security agents after they had cleaned their own environment, to ensure others do the same.
The leader of a team from Edo state taskforce on Environment, Ikpoba-Okha, Mr Felix Obakhena told Radio Nigeria that the team had so far made about eight arrests at the time of interview, and they had been taken to base to face a mobile court.
A young lady who was arrested in a commercial vehicle while going to work, said she was not aware of the compulsory environmental sanitation exercise.
Governor Monday Okpebholo had approved the reintroduction of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise beginning from April 26, 2025
The reintroduction of the monthly environmental sanitation exercise is part of the Okpebholo-led administration’s commitment to ensuring a healthier and cleaner environment for the people of the state.
Source; Austin Ineh, FRCN, Benin City
