Group Urges Anambra Govt To Overhaul Environment Policy

A non governmental organisation, International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety), has urged the Anambra Government to overhaul its environment policy to meet international best practice.

The Chairman, Board of Trustees of the group, Mr Emeka Umeagbalasi, made the call in a statement made available to the newsmen on Monday in Onitsha.

He said that the overhaul would enable the government to solve emerging environmental challenges in the state while commending the efforts of the government on erosion control among other projects, and also urged the state Ministry of Environment  to curtail the alarming rate of deforestation.

“We appreciate the fact that your executive council, through the environment ministry has started and completed some gully erosion control projects, while others totalling 27 site projects worth billions of naira are under construction across the state.

“The evacuation of the age-long heaps of refuse, which are mountain-size at the Creek Road/Nwangene River side is celebrated.

“Appreciated also is the dredging of the legendary Sakamori Drainage system in Onitsha, which collects Onitsha flood water to the Niger River.

“It is also worthy to mention the successful dredging and re-opening of the Iyiagu Flood Channel in Awka, which was blocked by private buildings.

“In spite of the successes mentioned above, the environment policy of your distinguished council is near-zero going by international best practice.

“Except for services rendered by the management of LAGA Environmental Services Limited in Onitsha zone that are commendable, the services of the Anambra State Environmental Protection Agency (ANSEPA) and the Ministry of Environment are very poor,’’ the statement said.

Umeagbalasi accused members of staff of ANSEPA and the ministry of being more interested in collecting sanitation fees without offering good service delivery.

He decried the indiscriminate dumping of refuse in empty plots, drains, roads, riverside and communities, especially outside the Onitsha zone.

He urged the government to provide more refuse receptacles and befitting dump sites within each of the 177 communities in the state.