Anambra, the Light of the Nation state, is enormously endowed with natural and human resources, but environmentally disadvantaged. In terms of ecology, the state has its fair share of problems. Almost all the one hundred and seventy-seven communities in the state are facing one ecological problem or the other.
Fortunately, Anambra is blessed with versatile, well travelled, highly educated and multi-talented persons that run its government. Thus, the Obiano regime, in realizing that to build a rewarding society, you need to understand what matters most to the people, has taken the bull by the horns.
The government, last week, declared state of emergency on waste management. Tagged, Anambra State Environmental Action Campaign, under the theme‘Dobe Anambra Ocha’, the government is committed to increased efforts in waste collection and management; faster turnaround in waste collection; improved enlightenment and citizen education in waste management.
In doing this, Ndi Anambra are rest assured that there will be remarkable difference in environmental care and waste management in the state. This is because the Obiano administration is poised to clean up Anambra State, introduce a culture and lifestyle of care for the environment by Ndi Anambra and residents of the state.
Before embarking on this onerous task, the new Commissioner for Environment, Mr Obi Nwankwo, and his team went into serious research, trying to understand what the issues and challenges are. They spoke to various stakeholders, including contractors that have been handling waste management in the state, Ndi Igwe, community leaders, market leaders, and, most importantly, Ndi Anambra who are most concerned about the challenges of the state with regards to waste management. They also reached out to partner Ministries and Waste Management agencies in States with considerable good records in waste management and environmental care, trying to understudy their various models.
As part of their investigation, they undertook a tour of the state. They also did a digital survey, using sophisticated drone equipment so as to fully assess the ecological challenges that face Anambra and the challenges with available dump sites. The research team explored the process of waste dumping, waste collection and management in the state and the relevant laws dealing with waste management. The end result is that it is possible to have an environmentally clean Anambra state.
However, a tree cannot make a forest. The Obiano administration can never achieve its dream of having such a state, if all the stakeholders did not understand what the issues are and the roles they are expected to play in the process. Hence, Ndi Anambra and the residents in the state are expected to the support the project. There is need for the cooperation of all relevant stakeholders to help achieve it.
Already, there is the Anambra State Waste Management Law; regrettably, many are not aware of it. For instance, the law stipulates bagging of all refuse and waste before taking to waste collection points; ensuring that wastes are dumped in designated points and maintaining waste bins in homes and offices.
The law equally provides for cutting grasses in offices and homes and keeping grasses low and trim; paying scheduled sanitation and waste management fees to designated government bank accounts; strict observance of last Saturday of every month as environmental sanitation day.
Anambra sanitation law demands that property owners, caretakers and occupiers of any premises shall provide and maintain a covered dustbin outside the premises to be used for depositing waste; bag all refuse; keep the premises and its surroundings clean, neat and free from odour and keep premises and surroundings free from weeds, crops and poisonous plants. Above all, Ndi Anambra should know that no person shall burn waste in any premises; dump waste at any other place other than designated waste disposal site; carry waste in uncovered vehicles in such a way that its contents litter roads and highways or throw litter from a moving vehicle.
People should know thatthat the law states that drivers of commercial vehicles must provide dustbins in their vehicles; operators of petrol stations, supermarkets and similar premises should provide and maintain public conveniences for customers, while excavated silt, earth, debris from drainages, construction wastes must be properly disposed in designated places. Last Saturday of every month must be observed as sanitation day
No doubt, cleanliness is next to Godliness, thus, Ndi Anambra and residents in the state should help in the campaign to keep Anambra clean. They should do their bit and avoid heavy fines and prosecution. Sanitation officers and men of Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra (OCHA Brigade) have been empowered to enter homes, business premises, schools and offices to inspect the sanitation and environmental conditions.Biko, Dobe Anambra Ocha!
