Cross River State governor, Senator Ben Ayade on Saturday slammed the two
contractors handling evacuation of refuse in Calabar South Local
Government Area after the expiration of the three-day ultimatum he
earlier gave to them to either perform or be sacked.
Fielding questions from newsmen at one of the numerous uncleared refuse
dumps along Afokang Street, Ayade ordered that the contract for the
evacuation of waste be split into smaller units, saying the decision was
prompted by the contractors’ incompetence and lack of capacity to perform
efficiently.
According to him, “The two contractors handling the evacuation of refuse
in this area are unable to deliver, they do not have the capacity to
perform and it is clear that the work is beyond their scope and the only
alternative is to split it into smaller units so that they will meet the
scope it takes to keep the town clean.”
Describing the attitude of the affected contractors as unacceptable, Ayade
said: “For two contractors to handle this huge work with 18 trucks is not
acceptable and all this must be brought to an end today.”
He therefore called on the chairman of Calabar South Local Government
Area, Mrs. Marjorie Asuquo, who accompanied him during the inspection, to
find young businessmen from the area to handle the work, adding that “I
cannot understand why the city is full of dirt while the governor’s route
is always cleared. This cannot continue. ”
The governor promised to constantly carry out a routine check on the
evacuation of refuse within the metropolis.
Interacting with residents of the streets he visited, the governor urged
them to report to the chairman of council any lapses in the evacuation of
refuse by contractors because the health hazard from uncleared bins is
high.
“This eyesore has an offensive odor and apart from that, it can affect the
growth of your children as well as their academic performance in school
and I plead that you do not dump your waste in the drains but in the
refuse dumps.”
Prof. Ayade hinted that modalities have been concluded for each household
to own its bin and that instead of taking waste to designated dumps,
collectors would go to homes and empty them thereby ensuring a clean,
beautiful and green environment which the city is reputed for.
Streets inspected include Mayn Avenue, Ekpo Abasi, Yellow Duke, Inyang,
Afokang, Jebs and New Airport, just as residents expressed their
appreciation, saying, “We are grateful for what you have done. This is a
good beginning of good things to come and the real change has come.”