In response to a report by Kristina Reports on the refuse dump at the Itam Market in Itu Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, the State Governor, Pastor Umo Eno has through the Akwa Ibom State Environmental Protection and Waste Management Agency (AKSEPWMA) evacuated the refuse there.

Consequently, traders at the Itam Market, Itu LGA, have applauded Governor Eno, and the Chairman of AKSEPWMA, Obong Ikim, for heeding their calls for the evacuation of refuse that was seemingly abandoned for over a week at the market.

The traders, who gave the applause when our correspondent revisited the market on Wednesday to ascertain if the abandoned refuse in the market earlier reported had been evacuated, said they were satisfied with the response of the government and AKSEPWMA, as this was the right step in averting outbreak of cholera in the state.

Recall that our correspondent last week had reported how a refuse dump at Itam Market was abandoned for over one week and the appeals by the traders to the Akwa Ibom State Government and AKSEPWMA to clear off the dumpsite to prevent any outbreak of cholera in the state.

Mary Asanga, a trader at the market who spoke to Kristina Reports said she was impressed with the way Governor Eno had always responded to issues brought to his notice by any organisation or section of the state.

While acknowledging Governor Eno’s efforts in ensuring that Akwa Ibom State continues to remain one of the cleanest states in Nigeria, Mrs. Asanga however appealed to AKSEPWMA to visit the dump spot daily, with a view to evacuating any waste at the market.

She said daily evacuation of waste at the market would not only save the state the troubles of outbreak of cholera or any other disease, but would also keep the busy road where the dumpsite is located clean and passable.

“Our governor has done well for clearing the refuse that was here getting to two weeks. I thank him and the man in-charge of waste management in the state.

“But, I want to beg government to come to this market every day and clear the waste. You can see the waste is by Calabar-Itu Road. It will allow vehicles to pass easily and people will be able to come to patronize us”.

Also speaking on the development, Unwana Ekpo who sells crayfish near the dumpsite, appreciated the governor and the chairman of AKSEPWMA for evacuating the waste which she said almost blocked the major road in and out of the market.

Mrs. Ekpo however appealed to the government to provide incinerators or waste bins at the market to enable traders empty their waste into them.

Meanwhile, the Akwa Ibom State Government has approved the acquisition of advanced waste management equipment to improve the efficiency of waste disposal in the state.

This was made known to journalists on Sunday by the AKSEPWMA chairman, Obong Ikim, while speaking in a joint press conference in Uyo.

The chairman who listed the equipment to include; five swing arm garbage trucks, five waste compactor trucks, 50 dumpsters, among others, said this equipment would see to the end of refuse being abandoned for days.