Anambra State government today, Wednesday, July 3, 2019 declared a state of emergency in waste management and environment in the state.

Speaking to the media at a press conference which held in his office at the Jerome Udoji Secretariat, Awka, Anambra State to flag-off Anambra State Environmental Action Campaign, themed ‘Dobe Anambra Ocha’, Commissioner for Environment, Mr Obi Nwankwo said the state of emergency will last for a period of 6 months.

According him, this is in line with the mandate given to the ministry by His Excellency, Chief Willie Obiano, Governor of Anambra State to “clean up Anambra State, and introduce a culture and lifestyle of care for the environment by Ndi Anambra and residents of Anambra within the shortest possible time”.

The Commissioner said that the Ministry of Environment has through interactions with relevant stakeholders including contractors handling waste management in the state, Ndi Igwe, community leaders, market leaders, partner Ministries and Waste Management agencies in States with considerable good records in waste management and environmental care, and most importantly Ndi Anambra who are most concerned about the environmental challenges in the state, been able to understand what the issues and challenges are.

The Commissioner also said that the Ministry undertook a tour of Anambra state, doing a digital survey using sophisticated drone equipment to fully assess the ecological challenges and challenges with available dump sites.

He stated that their findings show that it is possible to have a clean and environmentally friendly Anambra State, and assured Ndi Anambra and residents that there will be remarkable difference in environmental care and waste management in Anambra state by the time the ministry fully activates its plans.

Mr Nwankwo further said the Ministry is committing as follows:
(1) Increased efforts in waste collection and management in Anambra State
(2) Faster turnarounds in waste collection
(3) Improved enlightenment and citizen education in the area of waste management.

He called on Ndi Anambra, residents and other stakeholders to support and cooperate with the Ministry as it strives to fulfil its mandate. He reminded them of aspects of Anambra state waste management law such as:
(1) Bagging of all refuse and waste before taking to waste collection points
(2) Ensuring that wastes are dumped in designated points
(3) Maintaining waste bins in homes and offices
(4) Cutting grasses in offices and homes and keeping grasses low and trim
(5) Paying scheduled sanitation and waste management fees to designated government bank accounts.
(6) Strict observance of last Saturday of every month as environmental sanitation day. Etc

He gave the Ministry’s contact phone numbers as 09012500200 and 0705692207.

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