My Neighborhood Watch #93- Reporting Event Around Us

Yesterday was a significant day in Uyo city, Akwa Ibom State, due to the monthly environmental sanitation exercise. This time, the exercise came with a complete restriction of movement for both humans and vehicles.

At my workplace, we were instructed to resume work by 10am, immediately following the sanitation exercise. I utilized this time to thoroughly clean and organize my surroundings, including my room. I sorted through and cleared out a substantial amount of clutter.

After completing the sanitation exercise in my house and surroundings, I realized it was almost time to head to work. I quickly got ready and left for the office.

As I walked down to the main road to catch a tricycle (keke) to work, I was shocked to find the road eerily empty - not a single vehicle, tricycle, or mini-bus in sight to transport passengers. What was even more astonishing was the large crowd of people gathered on the road, waiting for vehicles to arrive and take them to their destinations.

A rare pictures of the dry road with no vehicles, plenty people and also with me

I joined the crowd of people waiting for a tricycle to arrive. That's when the chaos began. Whenever a tricycle stopped, everyone would rush and struggle to get in first. The situation got so intense that some people got injured in the scramble to board the tricycles.

Despite knowing I was already running late for work, I refused to join the struggle to board a tricycle. Instead, I maintained my calm demeanor, as if I had all the time in the world. I knew that if I got injured in the chaos, my company would unlikely be sympathetic or offer assistance. So, I prioritized caution and decided to wait patiently.

I waited outside for about 20 to 25 minutes before tricycles started arriving in greater numbers. Eventually, I was able to board one and head to work.

When I arrived at the office, I saw my two colleagues waiting outside, drenched in sweat. When I asked them what happened, they explained that they had to walk all the way from their homes to the office because there were no vehicles on the road. We had to wait outside for our supervisor, as she's the one with the office key. A few minutes later, she arrived, and we all entered the office to start our work.

My friend told me that a lot has happened in her area regarding the sanitation exercise. She said some defaulters were paraded and arrested. Despite the movement restrictions and widespread sensitization, many residents were caught violating the directive.

The defaulters were taken to the Environmental Sanitation Court in the state, where some pleaded guilty and received community service sentences, while others faced further proceedings.

According to news reports, over 250 defaulters were arrested and prosecuted by the sanitation court in Uyo for violating the movement restriction order.

The monthly environmental sanitation exercise in Uyo city, Akwa Ibom State, was marked by significant challenges, including restricted movement and limited transportation options during the period of 6am to 10 am.

While many residents complied with the exercise, there were some defaulters, and they were arrested and prosecuted for violating the movement restrictions. Meanwhile, as a law-abiding citizens as I am, I was faced with difficulties in getting to work because of vehicle, after I had duly complied with the sanitation exercise.

The sanitation exercise served as a reminder of the importance of adhering to regulations and respecting community efforts to maintain a clean and healthy environment.

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