The Cross River State Government has arrested more than 40 people for violating environmental sanitation laws during a major enforcement operation in Calabar. The exercise formed part of the state's renewed effort to keep the city clean, reduce flooding and restore order in public places.
The operation was led by the Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Moses Osogi, alongside security agencies and members of the state's environmental task force. During the exercise, officials raided several locations including Watt Market, Marian Market (Ika Ika Oqua), and the Bogobiri Suya Arcade, where many offenders were arrested.
According to the Commissioner, those arrested committed offences such as dumping refuse indiscriminately, keeping dirty surroundings, trading during the monthly environmental sanitation hours, and erecting illegal structures on drainage channels, road medians and sidewalks. He said the suspects would face prosecution under the environmental laws of Cross River State.
Osogi warned residents against throwing waste into drainage systems, stressing that such actions block water channels, increase the risk of flooding and create serious health hazards. He urged residents, business owners and institutions to make cleanliness a daily habit and patronise only approved waste disposal operators.
The Commissioner for Wealth Creation and Employment, Hon. Patrick Egbede, who joined the exercise, expressed disappointment over the poor sanitary conditions in some markets. He warned that selling food in dirty environments could expose consumers to diseases and food poisoning.
Some traders, however, blamed the Calabar Municipal Council for the poor condition of the markets. They argued that they already pay sanitation fees regularly and questioned why the markets were still left dirty. Others whose goods were seized appealed to the state government to provide more shops inside the markets so they would not be forced to display their wares along roadsides and drainage channels.
The state government said the enforcement exercise will continue as part of its campaign to maintain a cleaner, healthier and safer Cross River.
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