Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has declared a state of emergency on environmental degradation, ordering the immediate desilting of drainage channels and a clampdown on indiscriminate sand mining across the state.
Speaking at a meeting of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers’ Council, Soludo described flooding and gully erosion as the state’s greatest environmental threat, warning that illegal sand mining, blocked waterways and poor waste disposal are accelerating land loss and ecological damage.
The governor directed communities to clear drainage systems and comply with environmental regulations, stressing that protecting the environment is a collective responsibility.
Soludo also announced plans to strengthen community administration following a recent Supreme Court judgment on autonomous communities, revealing that proposed reforms would formally recognise communities as the fourth tier of governance in the state.
He urged traditional rulers to mobilise their communities in support of the environmental campaign and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to building a safer and more sustainable Anambra.
