Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, Governor of Anambra State, has charged communities with working with the state government to prevent erosion. Soludo made the statement on Friday during a town hall meeting on erosion control and management with stakeholders from five areas impacted by gully erosion.
The Oko Civic Centre hosted the town hall meeting, which representatives from five communities attended, including Nanka, Awgbu, Oko, Amaokpala, and Ekwulobia.
The governor said that pending the bill’s passage, he will sign an executive order forbidding sand mining near erosion-prone areas.
He noted that part of the problem is people’s negative attitude toward the environment. Furthermore, he wants the government to do everything instead of doing their bit.
He stated that “The environment is Anambra’s most serious existential threat. The fifth finger of my administration’s manifesto is based on the environment; towards green, clean, planned markets, communities, and cities to make our environment sustainable,” the governor said.
“As an individual, what have you done today and tomorrow to combat the erosion threat?
“Active gully erosion is occurring in 146 Anambra communities which constitutes 81.5 per cent. The five communities that have assembled here today are at the epicentre of gully erosion. If we do enough of what we are meant to do, the rate of erosion will be reduced to 80 per cent.
“An action plan on sand mining law, regulation, and enforcement, community sensitisation, revenue collection, a statewide awareness campaign, designing roads for proper water channelisation and building catchment pits, among other things, shall be established.
“We already have a draft environmental law that will help to punish offenders”.
The governor decried the state’s lack of a good strategy and design for water channelization. He noted that channel openings in Onitsha had already begun and that the revolution must continue in other regions.
Governor Soludo noted that the best time to act was decades ago and that the second best time to work is now. He also emphasized the importance of defining individual and collective duties.
The governor encouraged each community to form a standing committee, an inter-community action team, and a robust enforcement arm.
The governor explained, “Anambra is heavily impacted by two natural disasters: flooding and gully erosion, controlling flooding alone will consume over N900 billion, which is Anambra’s total budget for many years.
“There would be marching funds for the five communities that will provide designated places where the government can begin tree planting to combat erosion”.
Before the governor’s arrival, Mr. Ogochukwu Ekwueme, the chairman of the transition committee for Orumba North, urged the governor to pass legislation to assist in ending sand mining in the region because it is a significant contributor to erosion.
The governor was commended for working with the erosion-affected villages by the commissioner for the environment, Mr. Felix Odimegwu.
cc: Punch Ng
