The Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has tasked communities to join hands with the state government in erosion preventive measures.
Soludo made the call on Friday during a town hall meeting on erosion control and management with stakeholders drawn from five communities largely affected by gully erosion.
The governor disclosed that pending the full adoption of the law, he would sign an executive order prohibiting sand mining near erosion-prone areas.
He stated that part of the challenge is that individuals have the wrong attitude towards the environment, but expect the government to do everything instead of contributing their quota as well.
“The environment is Anambra’s most serious existential threat,” Soludo said.
“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.”
The governor bemoaned the lack of design for water channelisation in the state, adding that channel openings in Onitsha have already begun.
Soludo disclosed that 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 would be established in the coming days.
The governor urged each community to establish a standing committee and an inter-community action team, as well as a robust enforcement arm.
“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,” he added.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Transition Committee Chairman for Orumba North, Ogochukwu Ekwueme, called on the governor to enact a legal framework that would help stop sand mining in the area, noting that it is a leading cause of erosion.
On his part, the Commissioner for Environment, Mr Felix Odimegwu, appreciated the governor for working with the villages affected by erosion.
