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JOE EFFIONG, UYO
Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital is said to be generating a whopping 18 tons of waste daily which are eventually dumped beside Government House along the Uyo Village Road to currently cause a blockade of the road.
Consequently, the state government has given a 48-hour marching order to all relevant authorities to ensure the evacuation of the road for free flow of vehicular and human traffic.
The Secretary to the State Government, Dr Emmnauel Ekuwem who handed down the government order government order yesterday when he undertook an inspection of the dump site along with all relevant government officials in the state environment sector, said as part of remedial measures toward clearing up the menace of the dump site, an asphalt inroad should be created to enable trucks drive about 50 meters from the road into the ravine where the refuse would be dumped to stop the damage dumping refuse on the roadside had caused
Ekuwem asked the Commissioner for Works, Prof Eno James Ibanga and the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Hensek Construction Integrated Services, Mr Uwem Okoko, to work out the engineering content of the remedial work plan for the Uyo Village Road, within 48 hours in collaboration with the Chairman of the Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency (AKSEPWMA), Mr Akpan Ikim.
While acknowledging the quantum of waste at the dump site which could be converted into needed energy and power for consumption, the SSG called on the Commissioner for Power, Dr. John James Etim to reactivate plans for the recycling of the waste into a veritable source of energy for the state.
Speaking on the imperative of the state government high-powered inspection tour of the Uyo Village dump site, the AKSEPWMA Chairman, Mr Ikim, said, it was expedient for government to undertake the tour to appraise the menace of the dump site and seek both short and long-term measures towards amelioration the menace.
lkim explained that, with the cosmopolitan nature of Uyo city, which generates over 18,000 tonnes per day for dumping at the Uyo Village Road dump site, there was urgent need for a larger new sanitary dump site outside the state capital with a conveyor belt that would recycle the waste while also providing a more convenient and conducive environment with good accessible road for the dumping of refuse.
He expressed appreciation to the State Government for deeming it necessary to undertake the tour of the Uyo Village Road refuse dump site with all relevant Government officials and emphasized satisfaction with the remedial measures taken to evacuate the dump from the road.
Mr Ikim, who said a State Environmental Protection Bill has already passed first and second hearing at the floor of the State House of Assembly, called on public spirited individuals to partner the agency and indeed the state government in the task of waste management and waste recycling.
The government inspection tour included: the Commissioner for Environment and Solid Minerals, Mr Charles Udoh, Commissioner for Power and Petroleum Development, Dr John James Etim, Commissioner for Works, Prof Eno James Ibanga and the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Comrade Ini Ememobong represented by the Director of Public Relations, Mrs. Grace Akpan and AKSEPWMA boss, Mr Akpan Ikim.
