Some residents in Port Harcourt have commended soldiers with the 2nd Brigade of the Nigerian Army  in Port Harcourt for conducting an environmental sanitation exercise in parts of Rumuokoro and Rumuigbo areas of the city.

Speaking to newsmen during the exercise conducted as part of the 2011 Nigerian Army Day Celebrations at the weekend,  the residents called on other security agencies to emulate the example shown by the soldiers.

Mrs Ime Akpan described the execsie as novel, saying that considering the army’s core mandate, nobody expected them to engage in such community service.

In her words, “the Nigeiran Army has done a very good job, because people used to be afraid of men in uniform but  today they have come out to clear the environment. I think that to me is a good development.”

She called on other military and Para-military agencies to emulate the Nigerian Army in contributing to the society where they operate.

In a similar vein, Sunday Daniel expressed appreciation to the men of the 2nd Brigade of the Nigerian Army for clearing the neighbourhood of their host communities. He said the action  is a clear immediate environment.

Mr. Daniel was of the view that the exercise provides a big challenge for members of the public to keep surroundings clean, adding that the task of ensuring a healthy environment is a collective responsibility.

“If members of the public can help them and do it at least once in a month, the surroundings would look better,” Mr. Daniel said.

Another resident, John Okodum expressed excitement to see soldiers jettison their normal routine of security to engage in community service.

Mr. Okeduru canvassed for a joint military and civilian team on environmental sanitation to promote a better and effective environmental management.

A pastor with the Kingsword Assembly, Rev. Tonye Benibo was of the view that the exercise would boost a mutual relationship between the civilian populace and the military.

Rev. Benibo observed that the gesture demonstrated by the soldiers shows that military service was not all about handling arms and fighting wars, but to ensure that the society moves forward.

The clergy said, “it tells more of the army because we are living as one and there is no Jew and there is no Gentile I believe it would make a better country.”

A similar view was expressed by Mrs Enefaa Ongbani who said the exercise exemplifies the army as responsive organisation to the needs of the environment.

She, therefore, called on the citizens to emulate the soldiers by keeping their environments clean, while decrying the huge wastes gotten from the various neighbours during the exercise as demonstrating the dire need to improve sanitation in the country.