The Abia State Environmental Protection Agency (ASEPA) has closed the well-known Umuahia events center, Where Else, situated at No.1 Azikiwe Road, Umuahia, on grounds of allegedly causing environmental disturbance.
Also, African Kitchen, owned by Where Else, located at Ojike Street by Azikiwe Road in Umuahia, was sealed by ASEPA during the exercise.
Explaining the closure of the business premises, the General Manager of ASEPA, Mr Ogbonnaya Okereke, said the order came from the court, following the alleged refusal of the owner of the property to adhere to basic environmental laws.
Okereke, who spoke through the head of enforcement in ASEPA , Mr Opara Macaulay, explained that activities of Where Else Event Centre and African Kitchen have been constituting environmental nuisance, ranging from the poor sanitary condition of the business environment and noise pollution.
He further said that the owner of the business refused to honour invitations and summons aimed at compelling him to do the needful.
Okereke made it clear that the Abia State Environmental Protection Agency would no longer tolerate violation of environmental laws by business owners.
According to Okereke, businesses would no longer be allowed to operate in unhealthy environments, especially those that constitute health hazards to other residents in the State.
He ASEPA general manager called on Abia residents to support the state government’s initiatives on neat environment and also to dispose their refuse at government approved times.
The sealing of the business premises took dramatic turn as some customers to the Where Else events and African Kitchen loitered around the premises in confusion and disappointment.
Messages pasted on the gates of the sealed facilities by ASEPA warned against unsealing the business facilities, stressing that doing so without approval would attract more sanctions.
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