The Edo State Government has officially cancelled the Monthly Environmental Sanitation Exercise initially slated for Saturday, 26th April 2025, to avoid disrupting the ongoing 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) across the state.
This was disclosed in a statement issued late Thursday by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Umar Musa Ikhilor, Esq. According to the release, the decision was taken in consideration of the welfare of candidates currently sitting for the nationwide examination, which began on Thursday, 24th April 2025.
The statement partly reads: “Further to our earlier announcements, dated March 15, 2025 and April 22, 2025 respectively on the reintroduced Monthly Environmental Sanitation Exercise in Edo State scheduled to hold on Saturday April 26, 2025, the general public is hereby informed of the cancellation of the exercise by the State Government.
“The cancellation is premised on the concerns of candidates sitting for the 2025 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) which commenced on Thursday, April 24, 2025 across the country.”
Despite the cancellation, the government urged residents to maintain clean and hygienic surroundings, emphasising that the health and safety of Edo people remain a priority. It also reaffirmed its commitment to promoting a safer and healthier environment for all residents.
The statement further revealed that the reintroduced monthly sanitation exercise would now hold on the last Saturday of May, 2025, between the hours of 7:00 am and 10:00 am.
Edo State Government reiterated that it would continue to engage citizens on matters affecting the environment and public health, while working towards sustainable urban and rural cleanliness initiatives.