Soludo Unveils Tough Environmental Measures as Anambra Marks 35th Anniversary
Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has on Aug. 27 unveiled a series of stringent environmental measures aimed at tackling environmental degradation, erosion and other ecological challenges across the state. The measures include greater personal responsibility for environmental protection, community participation in regular desilting and clearing of water channels, as well as the establishment of environmental committees at the town, village and kindred levels.
The governor also directed markets across the state to adopt effective waste management systems, while households are expected to provide waste bins and property owners to introduce measures for controlling surface water runoff within their compounds. He further warned developers against violating the three-metre setback requirement and constructing on waterways, while reckless sand and gravel mining in erosion-prone areas would no longer be tolerated.
Governor Soludo announced the measures during a nationwide broadcast to mark Anambra State’s 35th anniversary, held at the Governor’s Lodge, Anambra Lighthouse, Awka, with the theme, “Our Environment, Our Future… A Call for Personal Responsibility and Collective Action.” The governor said Anambra currently has more than 1,000 active gully erosion sites, many of which were caused or worsened by human activities, while new ones continue to emerge.
He identified communities including Oko, Nanka, Amaokpala, Agulu, Ogidi, Ozubulu and Nkpor, as well as parts of Onitsha and Nnewi, among areas facing serious erosion threats. According to him, gully erosion has affected more than 30 per cent of the state’s landmass, stressing that the situation requires urgent collective action.
Governor Soludo contrasted Anambra’s experience with that of Lagos State, which, he noted, is reclaiming land from the ocean, while Anambra continues to lose portions of its land to erosion. He maintained that the erosion crisis in Anambra was largely human-induced rather than entirely natural, urging communities, local governments, churches, schools and other stakeholders to take responsibility for protecting the environment.
The governor also announced that anyone seeking to drill a borehole in the state would be required to obtain the necessary approval under the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process. He directed that new building plans should incorporate tree planting as part of efforts to promote a greener and more sustainable environment.
Governor Soludo stressed the importance of protecting trees, noting that in many developed countries, permission is required before a tree can be cut down because of its environmental and ecological benefits. He added that the state government would establish a compliance and reporting network to monitor environmental hazards and ensure adherence to the new measures.
The governor called on Ndi Anambra to embrace collective responsibility for environmental protection, warning that safeguarding the state’s environment was essential to securing a sustainable future for present and future generations.
