The Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) has expressed serious concerns over the uncontrolled movement of cattle through the streets of Umuahia, the state capital.
Catechist Ambrose Jonah, Deputy General Manager of ASEPA's Umuahia zone, revealed this while speaking with journalists at his office. He emphasized that the state government is disturbed by the situation and plans are underway to address it.
"Cattle cannot continue to roam the streets of Umuahia uncontrollably," Jonah stated, adding that he would convey these concerns to Governor Alex Otti. He particularly noted with dismay that herders and their cattle even move through the Government House area, describing it as "an anomaly at a time Abia is experiencing environmental transformation."
"By the special grace of God, I will be sending a memo to the governor to seek his opinion. I have also spoken to our Attorney General. There should be a law prohibiting some of these things. There are other places where they have to at least graze, and not within the town. So we are working on that," Jonah explained.
Environmental Transformation Progress
On the broader environmental cleanliness of the state, the ASEPA official expressed satisfaction with achievements made over the past two years. He noted that Abia State, previously known for bad roads and dirty environment, has seen significant improvement since Governor Otti declared a state of emergency on environmental issues upon assuming office in May 2023.
Jonah commended the governor for providing additional vehicles to ASEPA's Umuahia zone and other zones for waste evacuation, and for ensuring that blocked drainages were cleared to allow proper water flow.
The issue of cattle roaming in urban centers has been a recurring challenge in several Nigerian cities, often creating tensions between herders and urban residents while raising concerns about sanitation, safety, and urban management.
