Environment

The Environment

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The environment is the number one existential threat to Anambra State. Therefore, our government will declare a state of emergency on the environment and every citizen will play an active role in protecting the environment. Urgent environmental challenges around the cities include erosion menace and waste management. In addition, there's low-level planning of communities, markets, and cities and enforcement of environmental controls. 

The number and size of erosion sites in Anambra are certainly beyond the financial capacity of the State to completely solve. Our government will continue to work with the Federal Government and DFIs to find lasting solutions. However, in addition to interventions in urgent and threatening erosions, government will mobilize all stakeholders to take proactive steps to prevent existing ones from worsening, and prevent new ones from developing. Better planning and channeling of drainage and flood will help. Personal responsibility of every citizen in controlling flood from each building/household, massive planting of bamboo and other trees, creating structured messages and mainstreaming public enlightenment campaigns as well as compulsory school education on sustainable environmental management, smart environmental management laws and regulations and effective enforcement, etc will be part of the comprehensive agenda to rescue the environment. The agenda is long and will be expensive. If elected to office, we will, among other things:

Embark on the opening and clearing of drainages and flood channels regularly to eliminate the annual flooding of roads, streets, and communities;

• Ensure zero tolerance for waste on the street, with the government reviewing and strengthening existing legal and regulatory frameworks and collaborating with capable private operators, local governments, and communities for the efficient and timely disposal of waste across the entire state;

• Exploit waste as an alternative source of power in the State by recycling waste for power generation;

• Work with private sector players to build recycling plants for waste and channel the waste to more value adding uses; 

• Improve the existing waste management and sanitation systems by reviewing the number and location of dump sites across the state to ensure that the dump sites are sufficient and maintained for proper waste disposal and management;

• Work with the Federal Government to streamline licenses of operators of laterites and sharp sand operators to arrest the menace of erosions caused by these indiscriminate activities;

• Closely monitor and supervise road builders to ensure proper termination of flood water on the roads which contribute significantly to the creation and expansion of soil erosion in the State;

• Continue work with the Federal Government and development partners to expand intervention in erosion and other climate change-related challenges such as floods etc; and

• Actively collaborate with Governors of the affected states, the Federal Government, and development partners to bring a lasting solution to the annual overflow of the River Niger which on an annual basis causes displacement and destruction of communities, farms, businesses and lives.

Clean, Green and Planned Cities, communities, and Markets

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Our goal is to become the most liveable smart megacity in Nigeria.  This requires planning, and enforcement of minimum best practices and standards for the ease of transport, communication, recreational facilities, and public conveniences, etc. If elected to office, we will:

• Continue and complete the design of the State master plan. Among others, the government will complete the masterplan of the state drainage system to ensure the systematic discharge and collection points;

• Design and enforce a template of minimum standards for infrastructure and other facilities in cities, markets, and communities;

• Embark upon an expansive but phased modernization cum urban renewal of our major urban areas, especially starting in the first phase in Awka, Onitsha, Nnewi, and Ekwulobia urban areas. Special attention will be given to Okpoko in Ogbaru LGA which is home to the largest urban slum in Anambra State, as it will be provided with modern basic amenities; and

• Implement robust clean and green initiatives to fulfill the aim of having Anambra as the cleanest and most environmentally friendly state. In addition, the government will encourage and incentivize households to plant a minimum number of trees per annum (we are targeting at least one million, preferably economic, trees per annum). 

Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene

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Goal: To boost industrial production and improve the living standards of the people, easy access to drinking water is critical.

We will

• Develop a water supply master plan, which will entail a state-wide hydrogeological survey;

• Complete the concession of water schemes in the State to ensure that the first four major urban areas-- Awka, Nnewi, and Ekwulobia have access to pipe-borne water within three years in office and to complete the Onitsha, and Otuocha water schemes within 12 months in office. Our target is to make access to clean (pipe-borne) water a right of every resident of Anambra, and

• Develop and execute a plan for the improvement of sanitation and hygiene practices among the people to reduce morbidity and mortality rates. There will be zero tolerance for open defecation.