Anambra @ 35: Works Commissioner Calls For Collective Action Against Erosion
The Anambra State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Arc. Okey Ezeobi, has called for a change in attitude towards the environment, warning that erosion remains one of the greatest threats to the development of the state.
Arc. Ezeobi made the call while speaking on the occasion of Anambra State’s 35th anniversary, saying the state’s progress and achievements were evident but that greater attention must be paid to the environmental challenges confronting the people.
He described erosion as an existential threat to Anambra, noting that about ninety percent of erosion problems in the state were caused by human activities.
The Commissioner particularly expressed concern over indiscriminate waste disposal and the destruction or blockage of drainage channels, which he said often redirects floodwater onto roads and contributes to their deterioration.
He urged residents to take responsibility for managing water and waste around their homes, stressing that government alone could not tackle the enormous scale of erosion confronting the state.
According to him, Anambra has more than one thousand active erosion sites, making it practically impossible for government resources alone to address all the sites simultaneously.
Arc. Ezeobi therefore appealed to Ndi Anambra to develop a new attitude towards environmental protection, saying collective responsibility was necessary to complement government efforts.
The Commissioner also congratulated Ndi Anambra on the 35th anniversary of the state and commended Governor Chukwuma Soludo for what he described as his timely intervention in the affairs of the state.
He expressed optimism that with greater cooperation between government and citizens, Anambra could overcome its environmental challenges and sustain its development.
