Kenneth Orusi
In a stirring display of commitment and leadership, the Executive Chairman of Ughelli North Local Government Area, Olorogun (Barr.) Jaro Movudu Egbo, KSC, led a high-impact environmental sanitation exercise across major locations in the council area, reaffirming his resolve to restore hygiene, order, and public health to Ughelli North.
The Saturday June 28, 2025, initiative, aptly themed “No Rest Until Ughelli is Clean”, was more than a routine clean-up.
It was a message of intent, signaling a bold shift toward proactive, people-focused governance under Egbo’s watch.
The exercise commenced in the early hours at Otovwodo Market, one of Ughelli’s busiest commercial hubs. Chairman Egbo, flanked by council executives, environmental officers, sanitation workers, and volunteers, rolled up his sleeves to personally oversee the clearing of blocked drainages, removal of refuse, and enforcement of sanitation standards.
From there, the operation expanded to key areas including Ekrejebor Road, Oveto Street, Upper Afiesere Road, Shell Oyibo Street, the Glass House waterway along Ughelli-Patani Road, Ughelli Main Market, Shopfair, and Wilmas Filling Station axis.
Unauthorized structures were dismantled, and several non-compliant business premises were temporarily sealed, part of a broader push to ensure adherence to environmental regulations.
Chairman Egbo’s hands-on approach and passionate remarks won widespread praise from residents.
“What I did on the first day is what I will do until the last day of my mandate. So once the town is clean, I will rest.
“If the town is not clean, I won’t rest,” he declared, underscoring his personal investment in the town’s transformation.
Traders and residents echoed their support. “Since Chairman Egbo assumed office, we’ve seen real change,” said a trader at the Ughelli Main Market.
“Today’s sanitation was serious and well-organized. We are happy to support this.”
The Saturday clean-up forms part of a broader environmental and civic engagement blueprint launched by the Egbo-led administration, which includes:
Monthly community-wide sanitation exercises
Public education campaigns on hygiene and waste disposal
Strict enforcement of environmental laws
Stakeholder engagement with residents, traders, and traditional leaders
Mrs. Victory Ikpibako, Head of Environment for the local government, commended the chairman’s leadership and lauded the active participation of the community. “Cleanliness is a shared responsibility. What we saw today was inspiring,” she noted.
In a symbolic extension of his sanitation tour, Chairman Egbo visited the Ughelli North Township Stadium, a once-iconic sports facility now in ruins.
Expressing deep concern, he pledged to escalate the matter to the Delta State Government through the State Sports Council, advocating for immediate renovation and revitalization of the stadium.
“This stadium is not just concrete—it’s a heritage. It produced champions. It must not be allowed to rot. Our youth deserve better,” he emphasized.
Saturday’s action-packed exercise is fast becoming a signature of Egbo’s leadership, pragmatic, visible, and unrelenting in pursuit of progress.
His administration has signaled that sanitation, civic pride, and infrastructure renewal will remain cornerstones of governance in Ughelli North.
With a clear vision and a determined spirit, Chairman Egbo is leading from the front, making good on his promise: Ughelli will be clean, and until then, there will be no rest.
Kenneth Orusi is the publisher and Editor-in-chief of The Story and Chairman, ICC, Delta NUJ.
