Body Charges Banks On Beautification Of Onitsha

The Civil Liberties Organisation, Anambra Chapter, on Saturday urged commercial banks to take responsibility for beautification of Onitsha and its environs.

Accoding to a statement in Onitsha, Anambra, by Aloysius Attah, the chairman and Justus Ijeoma, the secretary, that due to years of neglect, residents of Onitsha have turned public open spaces and green verge areas to dump sites.

“We are, therefore, calling on banks operating in Onitsha to take ownership of the environment. They can complement government efforts in converting various walkways, illegal motor parks and other spaces which people abuse and convert them into gardens and relaxation parks,” the statement emphasised

“This is what is obtainable in other states and we think that when this is done, Onitsha and the state can regain its beauty, aesthetics and become clean and green again. “The entrance to major cities should be taken into consideration by making sure it is carefully beautified and arranged.

“This is the area companies and other public offices can take up as part of their social responsibility,’’ it added.

The statement, however, called on the Anambra government to enforce the state’s environmental laws to the latter.

“In other states like Lagos, Cross River, Delta and Enugu, the environment is taken seriously while there are stiff penalties for those who deface or litter the environment,’’ it declared.

The rate of indiscriminate dumping of refuse is alarming and now a source of concern to the state government and its waste evacuation partner, Laga Waste Management Ltd.