The Ebonyi government has said that it will pay attention to the hinterlands in implementing its monthly sanitation exercise.

The State Commissioner for the Environment, Grants, and Donor Agencies, Dr. Richard Nnabu disclosed in Abakaliki while reacting to the conduct of the October edition of the exercise.

Nnabu said that subsequent editions of the exercise would see greater participation of rural dwellers to replicate the successes recorded in the urban areas.

"It is instructive to note that the October edition of the exercise was extended to the suburbs of Abakaliki and other urban areas and it was a huge success.

"Implementing the exercise at the hinterlands would have a wider impact and encourage good hygiene in those areas.

"We would sustain the monthly sanitation exercise in the state as we are presently overcoming the challenges which halted the exercise in the past.

"The success we have achieved since the exercise's resurgence in September is encouraging and we would sustain it henceforth,".

The commissioner commended the citizens for complying massively in the exercise noting that the enlightenment carried on them was yielding fruits

"I advise the public to collaborate with the ministry in keeping the state clean, as it was in everyone's interest".

Dr. Kelechukwu Okezie, Director of the Neighborhood Environment Watch Foundation, who observed the exercise commended the commissioner's efforts in resuscitating the exercise.

"Environmental cleanliness is important to the health of the people and general development of the society.

"The exercise was not observed for long which made people revert to negative environmental tendencies.

" People should presently see environmental cleanliness as a serious business and its reintroduction should strengthen this notion.