The Vice Chairman of Biase Local Government Area, Hon. Chief Ekuma Ngwu, has commended Cross River State Governor Bassey Edet Otu’s sanitation initiatives, saying the measures have contributed to visible improvements in environmental hygiene and cleanliness across the state.
Ngwu made the assessment while citing findings from a recently published study titled “Assessment of Environmental Sanitation Practices in Calabar City, Cross River State, Nigeria,” published in the GVU Journal of Research and Development. The study examined sanitation practices in Calabar metropolis and reported improvements in environmental cleanliness.
According to the study, recent government interventions, including the renewed monthly sanitation exercise, improved sanitation infrastructure and enhanced waste collection, have contributed to better public health and environmental conditions in the state.
The research further found that 91 per cent of respondents actively participate in the monthly sanitation exercise, highlighting a high level of public awareness and participation in sanitation activities.
Ngwu said the findings provide evidence that sustained government attention to environmental sanitation under Governor Otu has produced measurable results.
He also commended the immediate past Commissioner for Environment, Moses Osogi, for his contribution to sanitation enforcement and structured waste management practices.
The Biase Vice Chairman, however, called for further investment in sanitation infrastructure, particularly in local communities, as well as stronger collaboration with private-sector organisations to maintain public amenities.
He also advocated modern waste-processing technologies to improve refuse disposal, discourage dumping in drainage channels and reduce environmental conditions that could contribute to flooding.
The study stressed that maintaining a clean environment requires sustained participation from government, residents, businesses and communities, noting that environmental sanitation should be regarded not merely as an aesthetic issue but also as a public-health and urban-development priority.
