NEWS
GOVT STRICT ENFORCEMENT OF IN-VEHICLE WASTE BINS IN ABIA: ASTOPU CHAIRMAN HON. VICTOR AZUBUIKE BACKS ASEPA POLICY, SEEKS GRACE PERIOD FOR OPERATORS
The General Manager of the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA), Mazi Ogbonna Okereke, has announced the commencement of strict enforcement of a state policy mandating all commercial bus and tricycle operators to install waste bins in their vehicles, with strong backing from the Chairman of the Abia State Tricycle Operators Union (ASTOPU) Aba Zone, Hon. Victor Azubuike, who has pledged full cooperation while appealing for a short adjustment window for operators.
The move, which takes effect from April 1, 2026, is part of renewed and intensified efforts by the Abia State Government to sustain environmental cleanliness and deepen sanitation culture across the state, in line with the vision of Governor Alex Otti to maintain Abia’s growing reputation in effective waste management.
Speaking to journalists and leaders of transport unions on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, Mazi Okereke explained that the enforcement drive is a reinforcement of an already existing policy, now being strengthened to ensure strict compliance and encourage responsible waste disposal habits among commuters and transport operators.
“All commercial bus and tricycle operators must procure ASEPA-approved bins and make them available in their vehicles for passengers to dispose of waste while onboard,” he stated.
He further directed that all drivers must ensure that waste collected during trips is properly disposed of at designated ASEPA disposal points located within motor parks across the state, emphasizing that the initiative is not designed to punish operators but to elevate environmental standards and public hygiene.
Okereke warned that any operator who fails to comply with the directive would face a penalty of 50,000 Naira, in accordance with the environmental laws of the state, stressing the agency’s resolve to enforce compliance without compromise.
The ASEPA boss also called on transport union leaders, including NATO, RETAN, and ASTOPU, to play active roles in monitoring their members and ensuring that the directive is fully implemented at all levels.
He clarified that the approved cost of the waste bins ₦1,300 for tricycles and ₦2,000 for buses and trucks is not intended as a revenue-generating measure but rather a practical and affordable step toward achieving cleaner surroundings and a healthier environment.
In his remarks, the Deputy General Manager of ASEPA, Umuahia Zone, Catechist Ambrose Jonah, expressed concern over the poor sanitary conditions still observed in some motor parks, warning that such lapses could undermine the significant environmental progress already recorded by the state government.
He urged park managers to take responsibility for maintaining cleanliness within their domains or risk direct intervention by ASEPA.
Responding on behalf of transport operators, the Chairman of Abia State Tricycle Operators Union (ASTOPU) Aba Zone, Hon. Victor Azubuike, welcomed the initiative and described it as a timely and necessary step toward promoting environmental responsibility among road users.
Hon. Azubuike assured the agency of the union’s readiness to collaborate fully with ASEPA in ensuring that members comply with the directive, noting that ASTOPU would immediately begin sensitization and mobilization efforts across its ranks to align with the policy.
While expressing support, he, however, appealed for a short grace period to enable drivers procure the required bins, emphasizing that such consideration would ensure smoother implementation and widespread compliance without undue hardship on operators.
His intervention underscores the critical role of transport union leadership in driving behavioral change and policy acceptance at the grassroots level, positioning ASTOPU as a key partner in the state’s environmental 
sustainability agenda.