The Anambra State Government has announced that future interventions on erosion, flooding and other environmental challenges will be tied to the level of commitment demonstrated by affected communities.
The Commissioner for Information and Value Reorientation, Dr. Law Mefor, disclosed this on Wednesday at the Idemili North Local Government Stakeholders Summit on Environment, which focused on flooding, erosion, waste management and security.
Mefor said the state government had introduced a new Citizen Code of Conduct on Environment as part of measures to curb environmental degradation and strengthen community participation in environmental management.
According to him, the government has adopted three major measures: full enforcement of environmental laws, mandatory catchment pits for buildings, and community action as a condition for government intervention.
“Anambra has one of the most comprehensive environmental laws in Nigeria and Governor Chukwuma Soludo has directed full enforcement. Henceforth, all actions by individuals contributing to environmental degradation will be stopped through enforcement. The era of impunity is over,” Mefor said.
He disclosed that the Ministry of Environment would soon commence physical inspection of buildings across the state to ensure compliance, adding that a grace period could be given to defaulters where necessary.
The commissioner also directed communities to establish environmental teams responsible for identifying erosion-prone areas, reporting environmental threats and coordinating remedial efforts.
He stressed that communities that demonstrate commitment to environmental restoration would receive priority in government intervention, while those that neglect their responsibilities would not be prioritised.
Mefor urged residents to complement government efforts by clearing drainages, desilting gutters and undertaking minor remedial works to prevent flooding and erosion.
He further revealed that, as part of activities marking the anniversary of the state, Governor Soludo had directed the production of up to 20 documentaries highlighting the scale and impact of erosion and environmental degradation across Anambra.
The documentaries, he said, would help draw wider attention to the state’s environmental challenges both nationally and internationally.
The summit was chaired by the Chairman of Idemili North Local Government Area, Hon. Stanley Nkwoka, and attended by the Commissioner for Environment, Chief Clem Aguiyi, Presidents-General of communities, youth and market leaders, as well as other stakeholders.
