By Douglas Princemola

The General Manager of the Imo State Waste Management Agency ISWAMA, Hon Ugochukwu Aghazie, has been honoured with the Great Achiever Award by the National Association of Electronic Media Presenters of Nigeria NAEMPON. The award was presented in recognition of his outstanding dedication to environmental management, his commitment to improving public health, and his continuous contributions to the overall development of Imo State.

The ceremony, which took place on Saturday at Rockview Hotel Owerri, attracted a large gathering of dignitaries, government officials, media practitioners, community leaders, and stakeholders who came together to celebrate excellence in public service. The atmosphere was filled with admiration as several personalities who have made positive impact in their fields were recognized, with Aghazie standing out as one of the most applauded awardees.

In his remarks during the presentation, the President of NAEMPON, Jerry Osuji, explained that the association carefully examined the activities and achievements of the ISWAMA General Manager before selecting him for the honour. According to Osuji, the awardees track record in maintaining cleanliness in Imo State, particularly within Owerri metropolis, has been consistent and visible to residents and visitors alike.

Osuji further stated that the association appreciates the effort of ISWAMA under Aghazies leadership in improving sanitation, reducing environmental hazards, and ensuring that public spaces remain welcoming. He encouraged him to sustain the progress, noting that the cleanliness of a state is a reflection of its leadership and plays a crucial role in attracting tourists, investors, and development partners.

He stressed that a clean environment is fundamental to economic growth as it boosts the confidence of business owners, helps to prevent diseases, and creates a healthy atmosphere for residents. Osuji added that maintaining sanitation is not just a government responsibility but a collective duty that requires the cooperation of all citizens.

Responding to the honour, Aghazie expressed sincere appreciation to NAEMPON for recognising his efforts. He described the award as a call for greater service and promised to continue working diligently to improve the environment across the state. He noted that the recognition serves as motivation to further strengthen his commitment to maintaining a healthy and safe environment for all.

The ISWAMA General Manager explained that the agency has been expanding its operations through the introduction of innovative methods, including the use of technology to monitor waste disposal and environmental activities. He said ISWAMA has adopted a more strategic approach to waste management to ensure efficiency and sustainability.

Aghazie announced that the agency has concluded plans to intensify sanitation efforts during the festive season, when environmental pressures tend to increase. He said ISWAMA is working with various partners, community associations, and environmental volunteers to maintain maximum cleanliness in both urban and rural areas.

He also appealed to residents to support the agency by keeping their surroundings clean, avoiding indiscriminate dumping of refuse, and embracing good hygiene habits. According to him, maintaining a neat environment is not just for comfort but is essential in preventing outbreaks of diseases, improving the quality of life, and preserving the aesthetic appeal of the state.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has reduced petrol prices at its retail stations in Lagos, Abuja, and other states by at least N20 per litre.

Current pump prices now range between N895 and N965.

In Lagos, the price dropped from N910 to N890 per litre, while in Abuja, it moved down from N940 to N920 per litre.

Other stations, including Ardova, MRS, and First Royal, are now selling petrol at N890 per litre.

Across the country, new pump prices for major states are as follows: Abuja N920, Lagos N890, Abia N912, Adamawa N940, Akwa Ibom N910, Anambra N905, Bauchi N915, Bayelsa N900, Benue N935, Borno N945, Cross River N910, Delta N900, Ebonyi N928, Edo N910, Enugu N912, Gombe N965, Imo N928, Kaduna N935, Kano N935, Kwara N905, Nassarawa N935, Niger N955, Ogun N905, Ondo N905, Osun N895, Oyo N905, Plateau N900, Rivers N895, Sokoto N935, Taraba N950, Yobe N950, and Zamfara N945.

Depot prices have also been adjusted following the arrival of fresh petrol shipments.

In Lagos, depots such as Wosbab, Chipet, Integrated, and Bovas now sell at N836 per litre, with Aiteo charging N835. Port Harcourt depots including Masters, Liquid Bulk, and Bulk Strategic reduced rates to N853, while Warri depots adjusted prices between N846 and N848.

Calabar depots also lowered costs, with rates ranging from N846 to N849 per litre.

The reduction comes after Dangote Refinery lowered its gantry price to N840 per litre.

Diesel prices also fell, dropping from N950 to N910 per litre.

A former Defense spokesman, Maj-Gen John Enenche (rtd) has said that the money given to lawmakers for constituency projects should go to security instead.

General Enenche made this statement in an interview on ‘Sunday Politics’, a program on Channels Television monitored by Ekwutosblog

He was reacting to the wave of insecurity bedeviling the country where people are being kidnapped, including women and schoolchildren.

“I want to suggest that money given to lawmakers for constituency projects should go to security instead. If you don’t save the constituency, what project will you do there?

“Let’s adopt indigenous homeland security and recruit our youths even someone living with HIV or hepatitis can join the force.

“What I would suggest is that you don’t need special recruitment. You don’t need special screening. Somebody carrying HIV can be part of that force. Somebody carry hepatitis can be part of that force, but they will not even go into the Army. No, they want to live where God has put them,” he said.