The Ebonyi government has declared July 1 as sanitation day throughout the state to mobilise residents to clean the environment.

This is contained in a statement signed by Victor Chukwu, the commissioner for the environment, on Thursday.

According to the statement, the exercise will last between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., with restrictions on human and vehicular movements across the state.

“Accordingly, all the residents of the state are required to keep their compounds, drainage, gutters and surroundings clean,” stated the government. “There will be no human or vehicular movements or sporting activities of any kind during the period of the exercise except those on essential duties, including health officials and security personnel, who must show valid means of identification.”

The statement added, “Residents of the state are further informed that defaulters will be arrested by security operatives and Ministry of Environment staff and prosecuted under the state Environmental laws.”

The commissioner, who expressed the government’s readiness and commitment to combat environmental degradation, appealed to the residents to assist the ministry in keeping the entire state clean and ‘green’ at all times for the benefit of everybody.

He further warned against the indiscriminate disposal of refuse at unauthorised refuse disposal sites and in drainage in Ebonyi.

(NAN)