Aba South LGA prosecutes 2 company staffers for allegedly disposing human waste on streets

May 10, 2018

By Ijendu Iheaka 

 The Environmental Health Department, Aba South LGA of Abia State, has arrested two staffers of Junifon Nigeria Limited, a public toilet / waste operator in Aba for channeling human waste on to the streets.

Mrs. Nwaigwe Onyinyechi, Director Environmental Health Department, Aba South LGA disclosed this in her office to newsmen on Thursday.

She said the company located at number 1/3 Asa Road Aba, had channeled excreta from a septic tank into public drainage resulting in the lodging of sewage at York Street and Aba Town Hall.

Nwaigwe while confirming the arrest of the suspects also said that they have been arraigned in an Aba Magistrate Court.

She said that an abatement order has been issued to Junifon Nigeria Limited to reconstruct their septic tanks and channel their waste properly or face the wrath of the law.

She said that following the order, the Company’s Manager, Mr George Okojie signed an undertaking with one man as his surety to be law-abiding and clean in their operations or be punished.

The undertaking which was made available to newsmen and duly signed on May 8, 2018 by the company’s manager and their surety reads:

“I, the manager on behalf of the owner of the above address / premises promise via this undertaking to abate any nuisance arising from our activities and actions in our premises as may be directed Environmental Health Department, Aba South.

"I also promise to keep our surroundings clean regularly to promote public health and shall never discharge our sewage into the public drainage and road henceforth.

“Failure to abide by the above undertaken, the office shall be constrained to seal up my premises and take any legal action against me/company in law court”.

Nwaigwe said that the company having defaulted earlier abatement of nuisance order given to it in April 2018 when its lawlessness was first detected, it would be monitored strictly henceforth.

She said that this second abatement notice to Junifon Nig. Ltd would be the last warning to them adding that under her watch, it will no longer be business as usual for them and their ilk.

She said that the Department of Environmental Health under her watch has declared war against environmental pollution and will work tirelessly to make Aba safe and healthy for residents. 

When contacted, George Okojie, the Manager, Junifon Nigeria Limited, after explanations from our reporter, claimed to have no knowledge of the undertaking.

He also refused to respond to questions about the undertaking which has his name and signature.

He however, was eager to know how and where our reporter got to know about the undertaking which he claimed not to know about asking, “Which undertaking, from who?