His Excellency, Senator Prince Bassey Otu, Governor of Cross River State, Nigeria
Your Excellency,
I hope this letter finds you in good health and high spirits. I am writing to you as a concerned citizen and representative of the Cross River Movement, an organization dedicated to improving the quality of governance and promoting sustainable development in our beloved state.
First and foremost, I would like to commend your administration for its ongoing efforts to enhance the welfare and prosperity of Cross River State. Your leadership and commitment to the betterment of our state are deeply appreciated.
However, I would like to draw your attention to the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, which restricts the movement of people between the hours of 7:am and 10:am every last Saturday of the month. This practice, whose origins trace back to the era of military dictatorship, was perhaps necessary at the time, but its implementation in our current democratic setting and free market economy warrants reconsideration.
The impact of this exercise on the local economy and businesses is significant. Restricting movement during these hours not only disrupts daily commerce but also affects the livelihoods of many small business owners and workers who depend on these early hours for their income. Additionally, this restriction poses considerable inconvenience to people traveling in and out of Cross River State, as well as those organizing important events such as funerals and weddings.
The logistical challenges and disruptions caused by the exercise can lead to additional stress and financial burdens for families and individuals during these significant life events. This topic was prominently discussed during our civic engagement conversation on June 9th, 2024, which focused on the environment and sanitation in Cross River State. The discussion featured a representative of the Ministry of Environment, private stakeholders, and environmental activists. The consensus among private sector participants was that the current sanitation exercise, while well-intentioned, is not achieving its desired goals and is causing more harm than good to the state’s economic and social fabric.
It is worth noting that during the period when Calabar was celebrated as the “cleanest and greenest” city in Nigeria, there was no such monthly environmental sanitation exercise; The state’s former glory was achieved through sustained community engagement, robust public policies, and effective waste management systems, rather than restrictive measures.
In light of these considerations, I kindly plead for your Excellency to reconsider the necessity and effectiveness of the current environmental sanitation exercise. Instead, I propose the exploration of alternative, more sustainable strategies to promote cleanliness and environmental stewardship. These could include:
Enhanced Public Awareness Campaigns: Educating citizens on the importance of maintaining cleanliness and environmental conservation through community programs and media outreach.
Improved Waste Management Systems: Investing in modern waste collection and recycling infrastructure to manage waste more efficiently.
Community-Led Initiatives: Encouraging local communities to take ownership of their environment through regular, voluntary clean-up activities.
I believe that by adopting a more progressive approach, we can achieve our shared goal of a cleaner and greener Cross River State without imposing unnecessary restrictions on our citizens and businesses.
Thank you for your time and consideration of this important matter. I am confident that under your visionary leadership, we can find a balanced solution that honors our state’s heritage while fostering economic growth and environmental sustainability.
Yours sincerely,
Iso Bassey is the Executive Director of The Cross River Movement (TCRM), a Cross Riverian, and writes from United Kingdom.
NB: Opinions expressed in this article are strictly attributable to the author, Iso Bassey, and do not represent the opinion of CrossRiverWatch or any other organization the author works for/with.
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