Barely a month after sanitary inspectors were brought back to monitor the environmental cleanliness of homes and business premises in Abia State, the initiative is already bearing the expected results, the government has announced.
Commissioner for Information, Prince Okey Kanu told journalists Monday September 15 after the State Executive Council meeting that government was happy at the appreciable progress already recorded in sanitary inspection services across the state.
He said that the environmental health officers (popularly known as sanitary inspectors) have in August alone visited no fewer than 4,500 premises in 85 communities across Local Governments in the state.
The environmental health officers returned to duty after the administration of Governor Alex Otti saw the need to revive environmental inspection services as part of strategies to sustain the drive for a holistic environmental health.
The sanitary inspectors had hit the ground running immediately after the environmental inspection services was launched in August 2025 across the 17 LGs.
“Since the reintroduction of sanitary inspection services, the inspectors have been making progress,” Kanu enthused, adding that the inspection services was “in line with the administration’s ‘Keep Abia Clean Initiative'”.
He said that Governor Otti’s vision “is to make Abia State the cleanest state in the country”, hence the decision of government to bring back sanitary inspection services in the state.
Prince Kanu: Sanitary Inspectors making positive impact
However, the Commissioner warned the sanitary inspectors against using their services as an avenue to extort money from Abia residents citizens, adding that only established environmental fines should be paid by defaulters.
The Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Philemon Ogbonna reinforced the warning against extortion, saying that it was to discourage such practices that government has put in place a policy of providing imprest to all the 17 LG environmental health officers.
“The objective of the government is not to generate revenue. No, it’s to make sure our environment is clean. So the sanitation inspectors have a duty to make sure that they do their job professionally,” he said.
Ogbonna stated that the hitherto moribund sanitation inspection services has been restored and in full swing courtesy of Governor Otti, adding that everybody was expected to join hands with the government to achieve the set goals.
“The government cannot do it alone, So every community, village head, traditional ruler should be part of this campaign, and ensure that Abia is clean,” he said.
Meanwhile the State Executive Council has approved the launching of a statewide tree planting campaign following the state government’s decision to go green, in view of the derivable environmental benefits.
Prince Kanu listed the benefits of tree planting to include improvement on the climatic conditions in the state, reduction of erosion, reduction in flooding costs, positioning of the state as a modern and sustainable state, among others.
