Soludo raises concern over indiscriminate sand mining

The Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has raised concerns over the indiscriminate obstruction of waterways and rampant sand mining plaguing the state’s landscape.

While addressing the Anambra State Traditional Rulers’ Council meeting on Friday, Soludo mandated the immediate, state-wide desilting of all drainage systems and the cessation of indiscriminate sand mining activities.

He warned that these practices are actively accelerating the state’s vulnerability to flooding and gully erosion.

He emphasised that Anambra is currently at a dire environmental tipping point, noting that while the state has the second-smallest landmass in Nigeria, its land area is rapidly shrinking due to ecological disasters.

He said, “Let me draw your attention to the emergency that we face: the environment, flooding, and gully erosion. It is Anambra’s number one existential threat.

“While Lagos is expanding into the ocean, Anambra is shrinking. Whole communities are being swallowed, and we are battling it. If we devote the entire state budget for the next 10 years, we will not be able to significantly scratch the surface of this threat.”

The governor expressed deep concern about the role of human activity in exacerbating these disasters, citing the common practice of channeling residential runoff directly onto roads and the deliberate dumping of waste into drainage infrastructure.

“We blocked the drainage; there should be a state of emergency in desilting all the drainage. Even people who mine sand contribute to this, because as the sand is being removed, it creates an avenue for erosion. We have our duties to protect our environment,” he added.

Shifting focus to the state’s administrative landscape, Soludo addressed the implications of the recent Supreme Court judgment on autonomous communities.

He announced a strategic pivot toward formalising the role of communities within the state’s administrative hierarchy.

“The new Supreme Court judgment on autonomous communities in Anambra State settles the matter. Our community administration law will establish a schedule of communities that make up a local government and address most of the issues surrounding the tensions currently surrounding town unions.

“While town unions have historically served as the de facto governing bodies for communities, their nature as voluntary associations has often led to fragmented governance.

“Currently, our communities are being governed by town unions, but ideally, they are voluntary associations—that is why you have three separate town unions in some places. When we are done, communities will become the fourth tier of government,” he added.

Reflecting on his administration’s trajectory, Soludo drew a sharp contrast between the challenges of his inauguration and the current state of progress.

He reassured the traditional monarchs that the executive branch remains steadfast in its pursuit of development.

“In the first term, I just stood in front of my office and took the oath because we were in a state of emergency then, different from now. I want to assure you that we will keep working to deliver on the mandate. Let’s continue to push for the new Anambra. New Anambra is on the rise; we are on course.

“As the state government moves to implement these urgent environmental directives and governance reforms, the administration calls upon traditional rulers to mobilise their subjects in ensuring that drainage channels remain clear and environmental regulations are strictly observed across all communities,” he added.

Also present at the meeting were the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr Ben Nwankwo, Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Vin Ezeaka, State Chairman of Anambra Traditional Rulers’ Council, Igwe Chidubem Iweka, among others.