Come September 2011 monthly sanitation exercise, the state ministry of environment, will have top on its agenda, the sensitization of Port Harcourt City dwellers on the need for Neighbourhood Sanitation.

The Honourable Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Nyema Weli, who made this open to journalists during his inaugural environmental sanitation exercise as a Commissioner, that the usually once-a-month, sanitation exercise would definitely not be enough to bring back the garden city status of the city of Port Harcourt.

He, therefore, charged the media to throw their weight on the sensistisation initiative of his ministry so as to reach the far and near on individual’s role in keeping their neighbourhood clean.

Dr. Weli said repeatedly that the government as an entity cannot single-handedly rid the state of dirts except a co-operative efforts of all and sundry propelled by a common goal.

The need for the sensitisation project is imperative, he noted, because it is only when people become aware of the reason for their actions, that the anticipated result can be achieved and only on that note will their understanding shift from a monthly ritual to a daily routine or practice.

In his words, “we need every body to assist in keeping our city clean, the government can’t do it alone. Do what you can to keep your environment clean. Years back as a growing child, we didn’t need the government to clean our surroundings for us, we rather did it ourselves”.

The Commissioner challenged the public to be the Police of their own environment and refuse others who would want to convert their surroundings to a dump site, stating that if it involves calling the Police, members of sanitation authority or Health Officers on situation they cannot handle, they should not fail to do so.

Sylvia ThankGod-Amadi