Aba stinks, residents fume, blast state government

Residents of Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State, have expressed concern over the filthy condition of the city and the possible health hazard it could cause.

Some of the residents who spoke with reporters on Tuesday in Aba, expressed concern over the unhygienic condition of the commercial city which now has overflowing mountains of rubbish.

James Onuka appealed to Governor Theodore Orji to reprimand those responsible for the situation, adding that further delay in sanitising the environment might be catastrophic.

Mr. Onuka called on the chairmen of the Aba North and Aba South local government areas as well as the General Manager of Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) to be alive to their statutory responsibilities.

He noted that the filthy state of the city had not changed for a long time, adding that the rains have worsened the situation.

“There is nothing to show for the several arbitrary levies imposed on residents of the city towards ensuring a healthy environment,” he said.

Another resident, Onwuka Eke, noted that heaps of refuse packed by roads sides two weeks ago after a clean-up exercise had not been evacuated.

“We heard they are trying to levy us to remove the dirt scooped from the drains over two weeks ago.

“At the same time, they are sending us demand notices to pay ASEPA fees or go to jail; yet the city is filled with filth.

“I think most of us have chosen the latter option should things continue to go this way,” Mr. Eke, a trader, said.

He said it was the responsibility of the local government to de-silt the drains and cart away the rubbish.

“But it is a shame that more than two weeks after the drains were de-silted, the rubbish from there are still lying on the road sides,” the trader complained.

Mr. Eke expressed concern over the state government’s recent directive to council chairmen and revenue generating agencies to harmonise taxes levied residents of the city, while urging those concerned to painstakingly carry out the directive.

Last week, the state governor berated the council chairmen of Aba North and Aba South local governments over their inability to clean up the city and shore up the revenue base of the state.

He ordered them to stop demanding unauthorised and indiscriminate taxes and levies from traders at the Ariaria International Market.