By Izunna Okafor, Awka
The Anambra State Government has reaffirmed that the suspension of the state’s monthly sanitation exercise, as earlier directed by Governor Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo, remains in full effect.
This announcement, which contained in a press release issued on Friday, April 25, 2025, by the State’s Commissioner for Information, Dr. Law Mefor, comes amidst public inquiries and concerns over whether the sanitation exercise would hold on Saturday, April 26, especially with students expected to sit for the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination across the state.
Reiterating Governor Soludo’s stance, the government clarified that there would be no environmental restriction on movement due to sanitation activities, and that all residents — including JAMB candidates — are free to go about their normal businesses and activities without hindrance.
According to him, the suspension of the monthly sanitation exercise, which had been in place for some months now, is part of Governor Soludo’s broader agenda to redefine environmental responsibility in Anambra State. He reiterated the Governor’s belief that cleanliness and environmental hygiene should not be limited to just one day in a month, but rather embraced as a consistent, everyday habit.
“Consequently, the sanitation exercise will not prevent students writing the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) examination tomorrow, Saturday, April 26, 2025.
“Mr Governor’s belief that sanitation should be a daily practice, rather than a monthly ritual necessitated the directive to suspend the monthly sanitation exercise months ago. He encourages Ndi Anambra to maintain cleanliness in their homes and environment daily, embracing the principle that cleanliness is next to godliness.
“Accordingly, Ndị Anambra are advised to go about their normal activities every Saturday, including students sitting for the JAMB examination this Saturday,” the statement partly reads.
This reporter, Izunna Okafor, gathered that, prior to this suspension, monthly environmental sanitation in Anambra State usually holds between the hours of 7am-10am in every last Saturday of the month.
Also speaking interview with this reporter, the Managing Director of the Anambra State Waste Management Authority (ASWAMA), Engr. Mike Ozoemena, reaffirmed the suspension and the Governor’s philosophy that environmental cleanliness should become a way of life rather than an occasional obligation. He explained that Governor Soludo’s suspension of the monthly sanitation was informed by the belief that Ndi Anambra should internalize cleanliness as a daily culture — not merely an activity tied to the last Saturday of every month.
“Mr. Governor doesn’t believe in rituals; he believes in sustainable practices that should be part of people’s daily lives,” Engr. Ozoemana emphasized.
Shedding more light on the realities observed since the suspension was implemented a year ago, the ASWAMA Boss noted that the monthly sanitation had, in many cases, failed to change people’s environmental attitudes in any meaningful way. He said, on the contrary, the once-noble exercise had been hijacked by some individuals who exploited it as a commercial venture. These persons, he revealed, would mount illegal roadblocks, extort unsuspecting road users, and impersonate environmental enforcers, all in the name of sanitation. He cited a personal encounter during a trip to Aguleri, where some individuals attempted to restrict movement without any legitimate backing, a scenario he described as both embarrassing and unlawful.
Engr. Ozoemena further clarified that these extortionists were not government officials and were acting entirely on their own. He warned that anyone still attempting to enforce the monthly sanitation in Anambra State is doing so illegally and at their own peril, as such enforcement contradicts the current directive of the state government.
“Anybody doing that now is on their own. If and when the government decides to reinstate it, it will be properly announced through the right channels,” he added. He also maintained that the government will continue to monitor public compliance with the daily sanitation model, and that future decisions on the matter will be informed by the people’s attitude and cooperation.
He urged residents not to be intimidated or deceived by impostors claiming to enforce sanitation restrictions. Instead, he encouraged the public to contact him directly or reach out to the Commissioner for Environment if they encounter any such illegal enforcement.
“Our phone numbers are everywhere,” he assured. “If anyone sees somebody trying to block roads or harass others in the name of sanitation, call us immediately and hand the phone to the person. I’ll personally let him know he’s acting outside the law.” This, he noted, is part of the government’s commitment to lawfulness, transparency, and protecting the rights of citizens while also promoting genuine environmental consciousness across the state.
