Anambra Environment Commissioner, Aguiyi Inspects Erosion Sites In Njikoka, Calls For Collective Action On Environmental Protection

Anambra State Commissioner for Environment, Dr Clem Aguiyi has inspected major erosion sites at Amaenye Village Abagana and Enu Agu Village in Enugwu Ukwu both in Njikoka Local Government Area where he made renewed call for collective action to address environmental degradation and prevent further loss of life and property.

Leading the inspection, Dr Aguiyi, attributed the worsening gully erosion in Abagana, to illegal waste disposal, blocked drainage channels and other poor environmental practices as he explained that the his visit followed complaints from members of the community over an illegal dumpsite and the rapid expansion of a gully threatening residential buildings, Nnamdi Azikiwe Secondary School and a major access road.

He stressed that the area is not an approved waste disposal site, noting that refuse should only be taken to designated dumpsites or managed through licensed waste aggregators operating within established environmental regulations.

The Commissioner observed that indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drainage channels has obstructed the free flow of storm water, thereby accelerating erosion in the area and further noted that some drainage infrastructure was poorly terminated, causing floodwater to discharge directly into surrounding land and deepen the gully.

According to him, Anambra State currently has more than 1,200 identified erosion sites, making it impossible for government alone to tackle the challenge without the active cooperation of communities, urging residents to desist from indiscriminate waste disposal, maintain drainage channels and promptly report environmental threats before they develop into major disasters.

At Enu Agu Village in Enugwu Ukwu, the Commissioner described the erosion site as one of the major environmental challenges in the community, noting that it has already degraded nearly one kilometre of land and continues to threaten surrounding infrastructure.

He commended the community for taking proactive steps to slow the spread of the erosion through the planting of bamboo and other trees as well as local stabilization efforts but, however, noted that the scale of the damage has gone beyond what the community can handle and requires major engineering intervention from the state and federal governments as well as development partners.

The Commissioner also expressed concern over reports that some individuals have been cutting down the bamboo planted to protect the erosion site and directed the Forestry Department and forest guards to work closely with the community to safeguard the vegetation, emphasizing that revegetation remains a critical component of sustainable erosion control.

Responding to concerns raised by community stakeholders over poorly terminated drainage systems associated with some road construction projects, Dr. Aguiyi said the Ministries of Environment, Works, Housing and Physical Planning now work in close collaboration to ensure that drainage infrastructure is properly designed and completed in compliance with environmental standards.

He assured residents that observations made during the inspection would be communicated to the relevant ministries and agencies to address identified deficiencies, eliminate construction practices that contribute to erosion and strengthen environmental compliance across the state.

Speaking during the inspection, the Vice President General of Abagana Welfare Union, Comrade Okechukwu Atu said the erosion is located along a road serving St. Martins Catholic Church, Hilltop Primary School and Nnamdi Azikiwe Secondary School all in Abagana and explained that the situation has become more severe because the drainage channel leading to the area is much wider than the outlet downstream, causing floodwaters to overflow and wash away large portions of the road whenever it rains.

Comrade Atu warned that unless urgent intervention is provided, the road could be completely cut off while nearby homes and public facilities remain at risk, appealing to Governor Chukwuma Soludo and relevant government agencies to intervene before the situation deteriorates further.

Residents of the affected communities expressed optimism that the inspection would lead to prompt government intervention capable of protecting lives, preserving critical infrastructure and preventing further environmental degradation.