The Abia State Government has announced the official resumption of House-to-House Sanitary Inspection Services, popularly known as Ndi Ole Ala across all 17 Local Government Areas of the state, in a bold move to reinforce environmental hygiene and enhance public health.
The relaunch ceremony, scheduled for Thursday, June 26, 2025, will take place at the Conference Hall, JAAC Building, Ogurube Layout, Umuahia. The event will be headlined by the Executive Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, who will deliver the keynote address.
The return of Ndi Ole Ala reflects a growing awareness of the role environmental health plays in disease prevention and community well-being. At a time when public health systems are under increasing pressure, Abia State is taking a proactive approach, anchored in tradition, but backed by modern policy, to protect the health of its citizens and the sustainability of its environment.
The announcement, made via a press release signed by Obioma Chidinma Success, the Public Relations Officer of the Ministry of Environment, underscores the state’s renewed commitment to sustainable environmental practices and proactive public health strategies.
According to the Ministry, the restoration of the Ndi Ole Ala system is not merely a ceremonial gesture but a strategic public health intervention aimed at addressing growing concerns about sanitation, waste management, and communicable diseases.
“This initiative is about bringing sanitation closer to the people, into their homes, streets, and markets,” the statement reads. “It represents a clear commitment by the government to safeguard public health through preventive environmental practices.”
Historically, the Ndi Ole Ala, sanitary inspectors, played a vital role in Nigeria’s public health system, ensuring homes and communities adhered to basic cleanliness standards. Their revival is widely seen as a proactive response to rising urban population, climate-related health concerns, and the need for grassroots-level environmental monitoring.
The Ministry is calling on residents, traditional leaders, youth groups, and civil society organizations to attend the event and participate in the renewed inspection process. Stakeholders are also encouraged to support the enforcement of sanitary regulations in their respective communities.
Environmental experts and health professionals, including the President General of Ahuwa-Oboro autonomous community in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia state, Engr. James Nnadozie Uchegbuo, have praised the initiative, noting that sustained sanitary inspections can drastically reduce the prevalence of waterborne and hygiene-related diseases, while also fostering environmental discipline among citizens.
“The success of this initiative could serve as a model for other Nigerian states and regions grappling with urban sanitation challenges”, Uchegbuo said.
