Aguiyi Charges Anambra North Community Leaders to Intensify Flood Preparedness
By Ichie Times
The Anambra State Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Clem Aguiyi, has called on President Generals of communities across Anambra North to intensify flood preparedness and take greater responsibility for protecting their communities from environmental hazards.
Dr. Aguiyi made the call during a stakeholders’ engagement with President Generals and Local Government Chairmen held at the Anambra East Local Government Headquarters, Otuocha.
The meeting focused on flood preparedness, environmental sanitation, waste management and orderly physical development, particularly in communities located along the River Niger and other flood prone areas.
The Commissioner urged community leaders to prepare their people ahead of possible flooding, rather than waiting until disaster occurs. Using the biblical account of Noah as an illustration, he charged the President Generals to become the “Noah” of their respective communities.
“Noah did not wait for the flood before building the ark. In the same way, we must prepare before disaster strikes, not when lives are already at risk,” he said.
Dr. Aguiyi urged communities to identify vulnerable persons, sensitise residents on evacuation routes and approved relief camps, and encourage early relocation whenever flood conditions become dangerous.
He also warned residents against constructing buildings on natural waterways, drainage channels and flood paths, noting that such practices contribute significantly to flooding and other environmental challenges across the state.
On environmental sanitation, the Commissioner called on President Generals to mobilise residents for regular sanitation exercises and discourage the indiscriminate dumping of refuse on roads, gutters, canals and drainage channels.
He further urged communities to ensure that drains and waterways remain free of obstructions throughout the rainy season, stressing that environmental protection must be treated as a collective responsibility.
The Commissioner explained that while Local Governments have statutory responsibilities for waste management and environmental sanitation at the grassroots, the State Government provides policy direction, oversight and enforcement support.
He therefore called for stronger collaboration between Local Government Councils and community leadership to improve environmental management and strengthen flood prevention efforts.
Dr. Aguiyi also emphasised the importance of proper physical planning, particularly in rapidly developing communities where unregulated construction and poor development practices continue to create environmental challenges.
He said sustainable town planning was essential to preventing future flooding, protecting public infrastructure and ensuring orderly growth across Anambra State.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Barr. Vincent Chukwuemeka Ezeaka, called for greater accountability, discipline and effective grassroots administration.
He reminded President Generals of the need for stronger cooperation with Local Government authorities, stressing that effective collaboration between the two levels of grassroots leadership was necessary for sustainable community development.
The engagement was attended by the Chairman of Anambra East Local Government Area, Sir Ifeanyichukwu Chinweze; Chairman of Ogbaru Local Government Area, Sir Kenneth Akwuobi; Chairman of Anambra West Local Government Area, Hon. Edith Ndive; Dr. Emmanuel Nweke of Oyi Local Government Area and other stakeholders.
The meeting ended with a commitment by Local Government authorities and community leaders to strengthen flood preparedness, improve environmental sanitation, promote orderly physical development and deepen collaboration in building safer and more sustainable communities across Anambra North.
