The Chairman of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council, Igwe Chidubem Iweka, Eze Iweka III of Obosi, has called on Ndi Anambra to join hands with the government in tackling the growing threat of erosion across the state.
Igwe Iweka made the call at his palace in Obosi, Idemili North Local Government Area, shortly after celebrating the 2026 Obiora/New Yam Festival, where he spoke on environmental and political challenges confronting Anambra State and the country.
Describing erosion as a major environmental concern, the monarch disclosed that Obosi had suffered significant damage, particularly in areas extending towards the River Niger, where homes and parcels of land had been lost.
Recalling his experience as a former community chairman, Igwe Iweka said inspection visits to erosion-prone communities in Ogbaru, including Akili-Ozizor and Atani, exposed the devastating effects of the menace. He noted that some buildings had collapsed into the River Niger between successive visits.
The monarch urged residents to complement government interventions by adopting environmentally friendly practices, particularly by avoiding indiscriminate dumping of refuse into gutters and drainage channels.
He also advised homeowners to construct catchment pits within their compounds to control rainwater runoff and reduce the risk of erosion.
Igwe Iweka further advocated extensive tree-planting initiatives, expressing concern that trees were being felled faster than they were being replaced amid rapid development.
He warned that indiscriminate vegetation clearance for buildings and interlocked compounds, without adequate environmental safeguards, could disrupt ecological balance and worsen erosion.
The Monarch called for greater public awareness and collective responsibility in protecting the environment, stressing the need for sustainable development practices to safeguard communities and prevent further loss of lives, homes and land to erosion.
