The Managing Director of the Anambra State Waste Management Authority (ASWAMA), Mr. Mike Ozoemena has attributed the steady improvement in urban sanitation and environmental order across Anambra State to the institutional reforms and community-centered operations introduced under the administration of Governor Chukwuma Soludo.
According to Ozoemena, Governor Soludo has, over the last four years, restructured waste management operations to shift from irregular evacuation and weak coordination to a predictable, decentralized and accountable system focused on public health, environmental safety and urban dignity.
The Managing Director noted that the impact of the reforms is most visible in major urban and commercial centres such as Awka, Onitsha and Nnewi, where routine evacuation of refuse, stricter supervision of contractors and improved monitoring of dumpsites have reduced long-standing waste build-ups around markets, schools and transport corridors.
The ASWAMA boss maintained that areas previously affected by persistent refuse accumulation, are now covered by more predictable collection cycles that support commercial activity and safer movement within city centres.
The MD explained that a major institutional shift during the period has been ASWAMA’s transition from acting mainly as an operational collector to functioning as a coordinating and regulatory authority.
Ozoemena said Local government structures were fully integrated into day-to-day waste management, allowing faster response to neighbourhood sanitation challenges, stronger enforcement of environmental standards and better alignment of waste operations with community-level needs.
He stated that the introduction of cashless sanitation and waste-related payments eliminated informal collections, reduced revenue leakages and clarified service responsibilities for residents, businesses and contractors.
This system, strengthened accountability and rebuilt public confidence in environmental service delivery’. he said
