As part of efforts to ensure that Abia State under Governor Alex Otti sustains the gains so far recorded in waste management, the Abia State Government has activated a policy requiring commercial and tricycle operators to use ASEPA waste bins in their vehicles.
According to ASEPA, it will begin the enforcement of the existing and rejuvenated policy activated by the state government from April 1st, 2026 and part of efforts to ensure that Abia State ranked among the cleanest states in Nigeria, continues to wear a better look under Governor Alex Otti.
Speaking while addressing Journalists and heads of motor Unions on Tuesday in his office, the General Manager, Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA), Mazi Ogbonna Okereke, reiterated that the policy, which had been in existence is also part of measures to keep the state clean.
According to him, “All commercial/Tricycle operators must adhere to this directive of ensuring that they procure ASEPA bins, put it inside their vehicles/tricycles for passengers to dispose refuse while they are onboard the vehicles.”
He added that the drivers on their part, must ensure they empty the buckets at bigger ASEPA bins as provided by the Agency on getting to their respective parks, emphasising that though the policy has been in practice, the state government is rejuvenating and strengthening it.
Mazi Okereke who pointed out that the policy is not aimed at punishing commercial/tricycle operators in the state, added that the aim is not also to impound vehicles but to improve the status of the state vis-a-vis waste management and environmental cleanliness.
The ASEPA boss charged all the motor union chairmen in the state including: NATO, RETAN, ASTOPU to ensure that they monitor adherence to this activated policy among their members, emphasising that failure to get the buckets in their vehicles/tricycles will attract a penalty of N50,000 as contained in the Abia State Basic Environmental Laws.
He also emphasised that getting the buckets and failing to deploy it for use inside their vehicles, is as good as not having the buckets, disclosing that the small buckets for tricycle operators goes for N1,300 while buckets for buses and trucks, go for N2000, insisting that this policy is not for revenue generation but to ensure environmental cleanliness.
Contributing, the Deputy General Manager ASEPA, Umuahia Zone, Catechist Ambrose Jonah, decried poor sanitary hygiene of parks in the state. He stated that some visitors to the state use the poor sanitary condition of some parks to generalise that Abia has not improved in environmental cleanliness.
He urged park managers in the state to ensure that their parks remain clean, warning that if they do not maintain the parks, the Agency will be left with no other option that to deploy its personnel to ensure cleanliness.
Representatives of the vehicle and tricycle unions including Azubuike Victor, appreciated the initiative. He promised that he will pass the message and ensure compliance among drivers under ASTOPU while appealing to ASEPA to give them time for members to procure the buckets.
