Soludo Declares State of Emergency on Environment, Demands Citizen Action

By Ejike Abana

Anambra State Government has declared a state of emergency on the environment, warning that erosion, flooding and other environmental challenges pose the greatest existential threat to the state.

Governor Chukwuma Soludo made the declaration during a statewide broadcast at the Light House, Awka, as the state marked its 35th anniversary under the theme, “Our Environment, Our Future, A Call for Personal Responsibility.”

The Governor said about 98 percent of the environmental crisis in Anambra is man made, driven by blocked drainage channels, construction on waterways, uncontrolled runoff, deforestation, sand mining and other activities that accelerate erosion.

Soludo described Anambra as the gully erosion capital of Africa, if not the world, saying more than 30 percent of the state’s landmass has been affected by erosion. He noted that the scale of the challenge was beyond the financial capacity of government alone.

The Governor therefore announced a shift from a government driven approach to grassroots environmental responsibility, directing all 179 communities to ensure regular desilting of drainages and urging traditional rulers, town unions, churches, schools and markets to mobilise residents.

He said every household must maintain proper waste disposal, control runoff water and avoid building on waterways, while the renewed Clean and Green initiative will promote environmental education, tree planting and stronger enforcement.

Soludo urged Ndi Anambra to take ownership of their environment, stressing that protecting the state must become a shared responsibility. He summed up the new approach with a simple message: “If you see something, say something.”