Cross River sustains monthly sanitation exercise, environment commissioner inspects drainage system in UNICROSS

The Cross River State Government has held the August 2025 monthly sanitation exercise successfully across the 18 council areas in the State. In Calabar, the exercise was monitored by the State Commissioner for Environment, Hon Obol Moses Osogi, with staff of the Ministry of Environment, security agencies, reporters and other stakeholders.

In his first outing after coronation as Obol Okamke 1 of Ugep, the Hon. Commissioner for Environment expressed gratitude to the public for sustaining the tempo and joining hands with government to keep the State capital green.

The exercise recorded massive turnout by residents who vacated the streets in compliance with sanitation directive and were seen cleaning their environments. Religious centers and business places remained closed all through the duration of the exercise and motorist were not found on the roads.

The Commissioner inspected desilting works at the Watt Market area where some trucks were deployed for evacuation of refuse. He also made cash donations to the workers found at refuse dumps to encourage them on the good work they are doing.

The situation however at the Marian market axis was different and intolerable as many traders at the new market area besides the Council Headquarters were found engaging in trading activities during the sanitation period. Many of them were arrested and brought before the mobile court at MOBIL filling station along MCC road to serve as deterrent to defaulters.

The Hon. Commissioner also led his team to the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS), former CRUTECH where he inspected the entire Drainage system from the staff quarters up to the creek inside the Archibong Ika Community. He promised that government will look into the flooding issues around the area to bring relief to the residents of the area. In their responses, Mr. Esemi Enang and Chief Godwin Amang, the Village Head of Archibong Ika Community, expressed appreciation for government’s interest in alleviating their plight by figuring out a lasting solution to the flooding issues in and around the entire area.

The next sanitation exercise is expected to come up on Saturday 27th September, 2025.

By: Archibong Emmanuel

(Snr. Reporter)