Obong of Calabar raises alarm over imminent outbreak of epidemic in Calabar. Due to the recurrence of piling trash in some areas of the city, the Obong of Calabar, Edidem Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu V, is extremely concerned that an epidemic may soon break out in the city.
He has voiced his unhappiness about the ongoing accumulation of trash in Calabar, the state capital.
Therefore, he requested that the Cross River State Government swiftly remove the garbage.
The Obong of Calabar Executive Forum (OCEF) chairman Chief Gershom Henshaw and OCEF secretary Dr. Maurice Ekpeyong issued a statement in which they described the ongoing refuse evacuation crisis in Calabar as wholly unacceptable, particularly for a city with a reputation for being among the cleanest in the nation and a popular tourist destination.
He said that the growing wastes posed a health risk to the general population and were likely to cause a sharp decline in tourist numbers.
He urged the appropriate government entities to start the prompt removal of the trash as soon as possible.
The public has been exposed to many hardships and illnesses as a result of the garbage mounds that have hindered traffic movement and people’ access to their homes in some regions.
To stop this unsightly trend, which has persisted for some time, the OCEF asked for regular, quick, and appropriate financing of the waste management agency and other pertinent government bodies charged with handling waste management in the state.
The announcement urged everyone to work with the government to maintain a clean environment at all times, especially as the holiday season is quickly coming and an inflow of visitors is anticipated to the state.
In addition, it stressed the need for environmental sanitation at all times for the sake of the populace.
