As part of efforts to promote a clean environment and improve the overall health of citizens, the Bayelsa State Environmental Sanitation Authority, has carried out the statewide environmental sanitation exercise for the month of October. The exercise which held on Saturday, October 25, 2025, saw active participation from board members, directors, heads of departments, and staff of the authority.
During the exercise, the sanitation team, under the leadership of its Chairman, High Chief Timothy Diekivie Itiedu, and the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Ifiemi Ikoko, toured major parts of Yenagoa metropolis to monitor compliance with the state’s environmental regulations. Some individuals who engaged in commercial activities during the restricted sanitation hours were apprehended.
At the Yenagoa Waterside, sand and wood loaders were cautioned to suspend loading operations during the cleanup period. Meanwhile, at Swali Market, most traders were commended for maintaining cleanliness within their premises. However, the team expressed concern over the untidy state of the Alamieyeseigha section of the market, where some traders ignored sanitation directives and continued trading, leaving the area littered.
A similar infraction was observed at Kpansia Market, where traders were found selling on road pavements, which led to the arrest of offenders and taken for immediate prosecution in line with the state’s environmental laws. The Authority also raised alarm over the absence of toilet facilities in the market and warned that it would be shut down within three months if proper sanitary infrastructure is not provided by its management.
At Etegwe Market, the permanent secretary urged traders to halt all business activities during sanitation hours and actively participate in the cleaning exercise. He also appealed to roadside traders to relocate to the new Etegwe Market, which offers improved facilities.
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During an inspection of the New Etegwe Market Extension, the Chairman cautioned butchers against using condemned tyres to smoke meat, describing the practice as hazardous to public health. Speaking with journalists after the exercise, Itiedu expressed satisfaction with the general level of compliance, noting significant improvement compared to previous months.
He, however, confirmed that a few defaulters, particularly roadside traders, abattoir operators, and loiterers were arrested and prosecuted at the Sanitation Court in Ovom, Yenagoa. The Chairman further warned developers against dumping construction materials such as sand, chippings, and moulded blocks along roadways, stating that such materials would henceforth be confiscated by the Authority.
He further called on all Bayelsans to remain law-abiding and supportive of the government’s sanitation efforts, urging continuous adherence to environmental regulations to sustain a clean and healthy state.
