Edo launches new campaign to become cleanest state in Nigeria

The Edo State Government has launched a fresh sanitation initiative, “Cleanup MEGA,” as part of its ongoing commitment to making Edo the cleanest state in Nigeria. This effort aligns with the government’s Making Edo Great Again (MEGA) Agenda.

The campaign, which began in Benin City, will extend to other local government areas in the state, with the goal of fostering a healthier and cleaner environment for Edo’s residents.

To inaugurate the campaign, Architect Joshua Omokhodion, the Edo State Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability, led a group of individuals to clean up key markets, roads, and streets, among other places. The team included health officials from Oredo Local Government Area, members of the Edo Waste Management Board, the National Union of Road Transport Workers in Edo State, and the Edo Tipper Drivers Association of Nigeria.

After the cleanup exercise in Benin City, Architect Omokhodion spoke to the press, emphasizing that the campaign represents a renewed commitment to making Edo State a clean and comfortable place to live. The government is dedicated to creating an environment that encourages healthy living and improves the overall quality of life for Edo’s residents.

The program, which is divided into stages, will be expanded. The first stage serves as a pilot scheme and a general model for the entire state. Its main objective is to ensure the cleaning of all markets across the state every day of the week.

The Commissioner highlighted plans to evolve into a monthly environmental sanitation exercise. As stated by Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the ultimate goal is for Edo State to become a place where people live in good health with guaranteed well-being. To achieve this, they are launching a program to make Edo State as livable as possible.

Omokhodion encouraged residents to actively participate in the exercise and thanked the Tipper Drivers’ Association of Nigeria and the National Union of Road Transport Workers for their collaboration in providing extra trucks for debris removal in certain areas.

Charles Imariagbe, the General Manager of the Edo State Waste Management Board (ESWMB), referred to the program as a revival of a past practice. He stressed that it will become a regular cleanup exercise.

To ensure a seamless sanitation exercise, designated trucks were allocated to Siluko in Egor Local Government Area, Oregbeni and Ramat Park axis, and various other locations in the Benin metropolis.

The Waste Management Boss emphasized that it is one of the Governor’s mandates to make Edo State one of the cleanest states in the country. Therefore, they urge residents to take responsibility by actively participating in the exercise. In the future, the task force will engage with traders, enforce compliance, and raise awareness of the consequences of violating environmental laws.