Nigerian Army Joins Abia Sanitation Drive as Government Warns Against Extortion, Poor Enforcement

Umuahia witnessed an unusual scene on Saturday, September 27, 2025, as soldiers of the Nigerian Army’s 145 Battalion participated in Abia State’s monthly environmental sanitation exercise, lending both manpower and morale to the campaign for a cleaner state.

The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Ikechukwu Chidozie Oriuwa, who monitored the exercise on behalf of the Commissioner for Environment, hailed the turnout as “a huge success.” He noted that the army’s involvement reinforced the message that the sanitation initiative championed by Governor Alex Otti is becoming a collective responsibility.

Oriuwa explained that residents not only cleaned their homes but also extended the exercise to markets and motor parks. He, however, lamented that some security agencies still undermine enforcement and appealed for their cooperation in handing over offenders to sanitation courts instead of ignoring violations.

Professor Ijeoma Iheukwumere, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Environment, also expressed satisfaction with the exercise but raised concerns over alleged unprofessional conduct by some law enforcement officers. She accused certain personnel of using tricycles to stop residents and extort money during the clean-up. “Instead of enforcing the rules, they are extorting people. I was even stopped myself while on duty,” she said.

Iheukwumere further decried that some streets, including Enugu Road in Umuahia, were turned into football pitches for children during the sanitation hours, undermining the seriousness of the exercise. She urged local government mayors to play more active roles in mobilizing residents, stressing that their absence was glaring despite clear directives.

In Ukwa West LGA, the Abia State Orientation Agency (ABSOA) mobilized residents through a massive sensitization rally on Friday, September 26, 2025. The campaign, led by Local Government Coordinator Juochi Ekekeulu and Orientation Officer Comr. Precious Nwagboso, took the message of environmental responsibility to communities with support from ABSOA’s Director-General Lady Ure Abazie and ASOPADEC’s General Manager, Ven. Dr. Joshua Onyeike.

The growing involvement of civil agencies, local communities, and now the military reflects wider ownership of the sanitation campaign. However, observers warn that weak enforcement, alleged extortion, and poor local government participation could undermine its sustainability if left unaddressed.