The Commissioner for Environment in Cross River State, Moses Osogi, has described the sanitary conditions at the University of Calabar (UNICAL) as "very appalling" following an inspection during the monthly environmental sanitation exercise on Saturday.

During his visit to the institution and other parts of Calabar, Osogi expressed serious concerns about the unhygienic state of students' living spaces, describing the overall cleanliness of the university as "deplorable."

"The University of Calabar is falling short in its environmental practices," the commissioner stated, while announcing that the state government would extend support to the institution to improve living conditions for students.

Despite his criticism of UNICAL's sanitation standards, Osogi rated overall compliance with the monthly sanitation exercise across Calabar as "high and impressive," particularly in the metropolis.

"Despite the break we experienced last month due to the JAMB examination, I am pleased to see that residents, particularly those in the metropolis, have shown commendable compliance," he said.

Waste Management Initiatives

Addressing broader waste management challenges in Cross River State, the commissioner acknowledged support from the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), which recently donated waste bins to the ministry through its Waste Intervention Initiative.

Osogi encouraged residents in need of waste receptacles to apply for the bins, emphasizing that they are intended for public benefit to help combat waste evacuation issues across the state.

The commissioner also directed the enforcement of sanitation laws against violators, signaling a stricter approach to maintaining environmental standards throughout Cross River State.