The Anambra State Government has launched a statewide enforcement campaign targeting owners of structures contributing to environmental degradation, as well as individuals who block waterways and dump refuse indiscriminately into drainage channels, as part of efforts to address flooding and improve environmental sanitation across the state.
The government also announced that a comprehensive desilting and waste evacuation exercise will commence on Saturday, July 4, 2026, marking the beginning of a coordinated statewide intervention aimed at restoring blocked drainage systems and ensuring the free flow of stormwater.
The development was disclosed on Monday in a statement issued by the Commissioner for Information and Value Reorientation, Law Mefor, who said the initiative underscores the commitment of Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration to environmental sustainability and the protection of lives and property from the devastating effects of flooding.
According to Mefor, the state government has identified environmental management as one of its key priorities, stressing that indiscriminate waste disposal, illegal structures erected on waterways and poor sanitation practices have continued to worsen flooding in many communities across Anambra State.
He explained that the planned exercise would involve the clearing of blocked drainage channels, removal of accumulated silt, evacuation of refuse from waterways and the enforcement of environmental laws against violators.
The commissioner warned that property owners whose buildings obstruct natural water channels or violate environmental regulations would face government sanctions, including possible demolition where necessary and in accordance with extant laws.
He noted that the government would no longer tolerate actions that threaten public health and environmental safety, emphasizing that residents have a collective responsibility to maintain a clean and healthy environment.
Mefor said Governor Soludo’s administration had consistently demonstrated its commitment to building a cleaner, greener and more resilient Anambra through sustained investments in urban renewal, waste management and environmental protection programmes.
He added that the statewide desilting operation was designed to prepare communities for the peak of the rainy season by ensuring that drainage systems function effectively and reduce the incidence of flooding.
According to him, officials of relevant ministries, departments and agencies would be deployed across the state to supervise the exercise and ensure strict compliance with environmental regulations.
The commissioner urged residents to cooperate with government officials during the operation by removing refuse from drainage channels, refraining from dumping waste in waterways and reporting activities capable of causing environmental degradation.
He also called on community leaders, market associations, transport unions, religious organisations and other stakeholders to support the campaign by mobilising residents to embrace proper sanitation practices.
Mefor stressed that environmental cleanliness is a shared responsibility, noting that government efforts alone would not be sufficient without active public participation.
He reiterated that indiscriminate dumping of refuse into gutters and drainage systems remains one of the leading causes of flooding in urban centres, particularly during periods of heavy rainfall.
The commissioner further encouraged residents to patronise approved waste disposal operators and comply with existing environmental sanitation guidelines to help sustain the gains of the exercise.
He assured the public that the state government would continue to intensify enforcement measures while investing in long-term environmental infrastructure aimed at creating cleaner, healthier and more sustainable communities.
The Anambra State Government reaffirmed that the crackdown on environmental offenders forms part of Governor Soludo’s broader agenda to promote sustainable development, improve public health and safeguard lives, property and critical infrastructure from avoidable environmental disasters.
