Gov. Soludo takes imminent step to prevent upcoming flooding in Onitsha
By Osegbue Patricia/ Juliana Nwachukwu
The Anambra State Governor, Prof. Charles Soludo on March 31 at Ochanja Market, Onitsha, flagged off the desilting of blocked drainages for easy flow of flood and to help keep the environment clean
Gov. Soludo, who was flanked by his Deputy, Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim and some government authorities said that the 21 Local Government Areas of the State, would follow suit by flagging off theirs over the weekend to be followed by communities and individual homes who are expected to do the same.
Speaking further, the governor said that Onitsha shall return back to its lost glory, emphasizing that his government is fully out to achieve this just as he has started with Okpoko and its environs.
He expressed displeasure at marketers who always block the drainages with waste generated by them instead of disposing them properly.
The governor promised to provide receptacles in the market where they will always pour their waste than in the gutter whii attracted a loud ovation from the crowd.
He decried marketers who preferred road side or street selling instead of hiring a shop at odu-igbo inside the market, warning them to desist from street marketing as they contribute in creating dirty environment.
Gov. Soludo also said that trees should be planted by the side of roads to save the environment and prevent erosion menace that has caused loss of lives and properties during rainy season.
Speaking, the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Felix Odimegwu, stressed the need for a clean Anambra State, noting that there was flooding following the recent rainfall.
He regretted occasions of loss of lives and properties that are unquantifiable caused by flooding, stressing that such ugly situations should be checked and stopped from occurring.
The commissioner said, "there are some drainages that have not been desilted for years and that is what we are doing, to desilt them for free flow of flood.
"We also ban trading on the roads because most of their wastes later found their ways back to the drainages after they were desilted. Those who ignore the directives should be taken to court," he vowed.
The commissioner regretted that some people deliberately disobeyed the law, saying that nothing would happen, pointing out that Ministry of Environment will not take that from them.
He stressed the need to restore the lost glory of Onitsha, advising those who used permanent concrete culverts as bridges across the gutters to their shops to remove them and replace them with removable concrete for easy cleaning of the drainages, warning that they should be made to pay for such removal if it is done by the government.
Contributing, the Managing Director (MD), Anambra State Waste Management Authority, Chief Mike Ozoemena, stressed that cleanliness of the environment is priority to avoid sickness.
"The first thing you give people is security and cleanliness and without cleanliness people will not be healthy as health is wealth . If you go round you see illegal buildings people are putting up. People give bribe and they build anything.
"The surprising thing is that on top of the blocked drainages, you will see people putting up shops on them, what I ask is if there is any epidemic here before you get to Awka, where we are, it would have killed a lot of people, but we don't want that," he prayed.
Earlier, the Chairman, Onitsha North Local Government Area, Mr. Onochie Ozoma, said that Gov. Soludo is doing the needful to keeping Onitsha clean, adding that his priority is to clean Anambra State and make it green.
He said that with the flag off of desilting of the drainages, and providing receptacles, there will no longer be indiscriminate dumping of refuse in Onitsha.
The chairman advised that shop owners, keke riders and vehicle owners should have their little dustbins for passengers to put their refuse.
"There should not be any more trading on the roads, building on top of culverts and throwing refuse inside the drainages. Maybe because of population people are no longer interested in hygiene," he said.
Also speaking, the chairman, Ochanja Central Market, Chief Bonaventure Muo, said that the flag off by the geovernor was a welcome development as many containers have fallen on Iweka road as they headed to Onitsha Main market.
He exonerated the market from flooding the entire environment with refuse, adding that the refuse comes from those outside the market where he is not in control.
"Outside the market we are not in control and the touts only operate in the environment and not within our market. The governor has said it that a taskforce should be set up immediately to arrest the touts who collect illegal revenues," he affirmed.
Reacting, the President General, Anambra State Amalgamated Traders' Association (ASMATA), Chief Humphrey Anuna, expressed satisfaction with the flag off of the desilting of drainages by Gov. Soludo, adding that the governor has come to better the welfare of the people.
Also on tree planting, he said it would help as trees produce oxygen for us coupled with the fact that it helps to checkmate erosion menace.
On illegal erection of shops especially on drainages, he said his taskforce, Make-way team, would monitor the illegal structures and make necessary report to the government.
The Parish Priest, St. Benedict Catholic Church, Fegge, Rev. Fr. Christian Onuekwusi who witnessed the grand occasion, commended Soludo for all his achievements especially on roads and his new plans to lift the face of Anambra State.
He prayed for God's direction on the
governor. (MOI).
More photos below.
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