Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo is set to sign an Executive Order banning sand mining in erosion-prone areas of the state.
Soludo dropped this hint when he met with five leaders of communities, namely: Nanka, Awgbu, Oko, Amaokpala, and Ekwulobia prone to erosion on Friday at Oko Civic Centre in Orumba South local council area.
The town hall meeting was tagged; ‘Delivering the Solution Mandate in Erosion Control’.
In his address to the communities, he said, “The environment is Anambra’s most serious existential threat. The fifth finger of my administration’s manifesto is based on the environment; towards green, clean, planned markets, communities, and cities to make our environment sustainable,” the Governor said.
He stated that part of the challenge is that individuals have the wrong attitude towards the environment, but expect the government to do everything instead of contributing their quota as well.
Giving reasons for the ban, he said, “active gully erosion is occurring in 146 Anambra communities which constitutes 81.5%.
“ The five communities that have assembled here today are at the epicenter of gully erosion. If we do enough of what we are meant to do, the rate of erosion will be reduced to 80%.
“An action plan on sand mining law, regulation, and enforcement, community sensitization, revenue collection, a statewide awareness campaign, designing roads for proper water channelization, and building catchment pits, among other things, shall be established.
“We already have a draft environmental law that will help to punish offenders,” Governor Soludo said.
He decried the lack of a good plan and design for water channelization in Anambra State and revealed that channel openings in Onitsha have already begun, adding that this is the revolution that must begin in other areas.
He emphasized that environmental preservation must become a way of life because it is an existential threat.
The Governor urged each community to establish a standing committee and an inter-community action team, as well as a robust enforcement arm.
