….Enforcement to commence on Monday,24th November, 2025
The Commissioner for Environment, Engr. Felix Odimegwu, said all is set for the
enforcement of the Anambra state Environmental Management Protection and Administration Law 2024.
Speaking in his office at Jerome Udorji Secretariat, Awka, recently, Dr. Odimegwu maintained that Anambra State will no longer tolerate any form of irresponsible excavation, soil removal, or sand mining—especially near erosion-prone areas, gully sites, wetlands, watersheds, or natural drainage channels as well as any form earth-disturbing activities that cause environmental degradation or threaten community safety.
Angel Network News (ANN) reports that the Commissioner warned that operators would face prosecution and bear the full cost of environmental remediation, as
enforcement will commence on Monday,24th November, 2025.
Engr Odimegwu pointed out some key areas of the enforcement to include: Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Storm Water Control, Runoff Management, and Catchment systems, Setbacks and Drainage Infrastructure, Landscaping and Green Zone Requirements, Aesthetics and Urban Beautification Enforcement, Sewage, Wastewater, and Effluent Regulation, Regulation of Sand Mining and Earth-Disturbing Activities amongst others.
The Commissioner further gave public advisory to landlords, developers, market leaders, business owners, community associations, estate managers, institutions and construction firms to immediately review and ensure compliance with all provisions of the Environmental Management Law.
According to Odimegwu, the enforcement is not punitive; rather, it is protective, designed to safeguard lives, prevent flooding, control erosion, enhance sanitation, protect public health, and secure the future of Anambra State.
He read part of the statement, “Following extensive sensitization, public education, and stakeholder consultations across the state over the past year, the Ministry of Environment will now apply the provisions of this law fully, firmly, and without exception.
” The goal is to safeguard public health, strengthen climate resilience, prevent flooding and erosion, and ensure orderly, sustainable environmental management across all communities in Anambra State.”
In his remark, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Anambra State Waste Management Authority (ASWAMA), Mr. Mike Ozoemena stated that anybody, whether private or commercial is free to purchase his or her waste bin from anywhere, as long as it meets specifications from ASWAMA.
According to Ozoemena, there are 240, 140 and 60 litres, and everybody must have his or her waste bin the compound, not just any bucket. He equally stated that anybody could buy from the market or anywhere, but he has confirmed that it is cheaper to buy from ASWAMA.
In his address, the Managing Director/ Superintendent General of Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra State (OCHA Bridgade), Comrade Celestine Anere
emphatically said that they would not hesitate to enforce the law and clamped down on any offender, announcing their readiness to rid the state dirt and all manner of environment threatening activity.
On his part, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Anambra State Erosion, Watershed and Climate Change Agency (ANSECA), Prof. Philip Eze described Anambra State as the number one erosion State in Nigeria, and also the erosion capital of the world.
Prof. Eze also stated that poor waste management is a major contributor to the emergence of erosion, because when wastes are dumped in the drainage channels, uncompleted buildings and along the roads, erosion menace is bound to occur.
According to Prof Eze, proper disposal of wastes will reduce menace in Anambra State, and it is very important that everybody key into the proper waste disposal system as read out by the Honourable Commissioner for Environment.
The ANSECA Boss urged individuals, communities, corporate bodies, LGAs and State government to key into EIA in order to find out the likely impact their projects will have in their environment and begin to mitigate the impact to make sure it does not cause any environmental degradation.
He advised ndi Anambra to consult the right people to carry out EIA study and give them the EIA report with which they will get their permit upon presentation to the appropriate authority before they commence their projects.
