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Raymond Ozoji, Awka
Following predictions of torrential rainfall this year by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency, Anambra State House of Assembly Committee Chairman on Environment, Hon. Edward Obiefuna Ibuzo, has cautioned against all forms of anti-behaviours on the environment.
Ibuzo who spoke to journalists at the state assembly complex Awka on Wednesday, said the prediction of heavy rains this year was not a mere fairy tale, stressing that early sensitisation against flooding was vital to avert the sad memories of 2012 deluge.
He said there was need for the citizens to eschew all forms of anti-environmental behaviours as it concerns dumping of refuse into drainage systems as well as indiscriminate building of structures on water ways, noting that such unfriendly environmental practices were some of the remote causes of flood and erosion menace.
Ibuzo emphasized that human life was sacrosanct and that the long run effect of blocking drainages amounted to loss of lives and property because water must find its way.
He said the state assembly has enacted a law that makes it compulsory for periodic and regular desilting of drainages across the state.
The lawmaker therefore stressed the need for the people to imbibe the culture of civic responsibility by ensuring that the gutters around them were cleared to avoid flooding and its attendant problems when the rains set in.
Although the lawmaker lauded the state ministry of environment for their commitment in ensuring a clean and healthy Anambra as vividly portrayed in their “Dobe Anambra Ocha” sensitisation campaigns, he also disclosed further that the state assembly has passed the bill establishing Anambra State Erosion and Watershed Management Agency into law to safeguard the environment from further degradation.
According to him, “In my constituency Onitsha-North 2, we have started the process of cleaning and clearing all the drainages so that when the rains eventually come, the water will flow freely through the channels and there will be no problem whatsoever.”
