Anambra State government has continued to take steps towards implementing environmental preservation techniques and building flood resilient communities in coastal areas of the state.
A two-day workshop on flood resilient solutions organized by the state Physical Planning Board in conjunction with a private firm was followed by a field visit to select coastal communities in Anambra East and West Local Government Areas.
Government House Correspondent, Ejike Abana reports that the field visit became imperative for better appreciation of the subject matter of the workshop which explored methodologies to pair indigenous knowledge with innovative solutions that ensure environmental preservation of traditional architecture towards building flood resilient communities in flood-prone areas of the state.
The communities visited include, Umueze Anam, Mmiata Anam Nzam and Umueri and the visit served as the beginning of the implementation of the resolutions from the workshop.
Speaking on the essence of the visit, the Chairman, Anambra State Physical Planning Board, Barrister Chike Maduekwe explained that it is to fashion out ways to mitigate flooding in coastal communities in Anambra state to avoid flood disasters.
Barrister Maduekwe said that Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s administration is deliberate about building a wholesome liveable and prosperous state which is why it is already collaborating with United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, to develop a flood resilient plan for the state.
Also speaking, the traditional ruler of Umueri, Igwe Ben Emeka stressed that anything that affects Anambra West, affects the East, especially Umueri people in the river bank, because the same river Omambala divides them, just as the Traditional ruler of Nzam, Igwe John Ogugua recalled that their fore-fathers saw and survived high-level flooding which stopped with the construction of Kainji Dam, until the recent climate change, suggesting that government should help by building resilient structures across the coastal communities.
Miss Eve Nnaji of the private firm, noted that the environment is the first line of protection, emphasizing that to a large extent, enhancing the environment with the proper vegetation and the proper ecology will help the flood-affected people of the state, as against moving them.
The Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Mr. Tony-Collins Nwabunwanne who hails from Anambra West described the initiative as laudable as it is in line with Governor Soludo’s urban regeneration agenda and harped on the need for proper education especially for those who are yet to build houses.
Mr. Nwabunwanne stressed that part of what is needed is total compliance to the directives and recommendations of the state Physical Planning Board.
The Managing Director of Anambra State Investment Promotion and Protection Agency, Mr. Mark Okoye and the Executive Director of Social and Integral Development Centre, Ugochi Agalaba-Ehiahuruike, among others who were part of the visit, said that the visit will engender new ways of doing things in the coastal areas, just as is obtainable in other countries of the world.
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