ENUGU RESIDENTS COMMEND ECTP FOR DESILTING DRAINAGES, URGES ESWAMA TO ENSURE REFUSE PACKERS WEAR PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
Enugu: Residents of Enugu metropolis have expressed their appreciation to Enugu Clean Team Project (ECTP) as well as the Enugu State Government for the desilting and clearing of gutters and drainage channels within Enugu metropolis currently being under taken by members of the team.
According to Mr Raphael Mbah, Supervisor, ECTP, Phase 5, New Haven, the Project was an initiative of the Enugu State Government in partnership with the Catholic Institute for Justice and Peace (CIDJAP) aimed at ensuring the cleanliness of the environment within Enugu metropolis with Rev. Fr. Mike Ogbu as the Coordinator.
“We are clearing the drainages of grasses and sand to avoid flooding. This is necessary to safeguard the environment within Enugu metropolis and protect Government infrastructure like roads from being damaged by flood water”.
Mr Mbah explained that the same drainage desiltation and clearing exercise was going on simultaneously, all over Enugu metropolis and that the staff under him worked as a team, clearing the grasses and desilting the drainages, portion by portion until the job was done.
On the issue of Personal Protective Equipment, he said, “Enugu Clean Team Project, as a matter of policy, does not allow any of our staff to work without putting on his or her complete set of Personal Protective Equipment”
Dr. Francis Ezeh, a medical practitioner and a resident of New Haven was full of praises for the Enugu State Government and the Enugu Clean Team Project for the great job they are doing to maintain cleanliness of the environment and as well protect the environment from the hazardous effects of flooding,
“Honestly, I commend the Enugu State Government under His Excellency, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi and specifically, the Enugu Clean Team Project for this wonderful and very important initiative.
“This will go a long way in preventing the gutters and drainages from overflowing their channels, leading to hazards like flooding.
“This particular drainage channel between Federal Neuropsychiatric Hospital and St. Mulumba’s Catholic Church is usually prone to overflooding, by this time, at the peak of the rain season, owing to the huge volume of water it carries.
“However, I urge the Enugu State Waste Management Agency (ESWAMA) to ensure that the contractors in charge of refuse disposal emulate the Enugu Clean Team Project by providing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for their staff.
“In this COVID-19 era, with the current wave of the Delta variant, it is appalling that these boys pack refuse from the refuse dumps with baskets and without any Protective Personal Equipment whatsoever.
“Afterwards, they sit in the back of the tipper carrying the refuse, some of them even eating okpa sorrounded by the refuse in the back of the truck”
In her remarks, Mrs Jane Obi, a trader at New Haven market commended the Enugu Clean Team Project, urging them not to relent in their marvellous job.
“Seeing these young men and women working hard to clear the drainages here, I’m glad because it will protect us from flooding. I urge them to keep it up. They are doing a marvellous job”
