As part of efforts to promote environmental sustainability and cleanliness in Anambra State, a group under the auspices of Dobe Anambra Ocha has called on residents to adopt safer and more responsible refuse disposal practices.
The leader of the group, Mr Ernest Obinna Okafor, made the call on Wednesday, September 24, 2026, during a sensitisation and monitoring exercise conducted at various refuse disposal flashpoints in Awka, the Anambra State capital.
Speaking with newsmen shortly after the exercise, Okafor said the initiative was prompted by the persistent blockage of drainage channels and gutters across the state, which he said contributes to flooding and environmental degradation, particularly during the rainy season.
According to him, the initiative was started by a group of friends who came together to promote environmental cleanliness and encourage residents to see proper waste disposal as a civic responsibility.
“It is an initiative by a group of friends who came together to ensure that keeping the environment clean is a civic responsibility of every citizen,” Okafor said.
He noted that the rainy season had exposed the consequences of indiscriminate refuse disposal, with waste materials frequently obstructing drainage channels and affecting major roads.
“During the rainy season, you find out that rain has blocked virtually the most accessible roads in the state. These are as a result of debris from improper disposal of refuse by residents,”
Okafor identified corn leaves, sachet-water plastics, containers, cartons and other forms of domestic waste as some of the materials commonly found in gutters and drainage channels.
He said the development prompted the group to embark on sensitisation activities aimed at encouraging residents to dispose of their waste at government-designated collection points rather than dumping it in gutters.
According to him, reducing indiscriminate dumping could significantly reduce flooding and erosion-related challenges across the state.
“If we stop dumping refuse inside gutters, 60 percent of erosion happening in Anambra will stop, and residents living in the state will have a fresh breath of air,”
Okafor further explained that during periods of heavy rainfall, refuse and other debris dumped in drainage channels often obstruct the free flow of water, causing it to spill onto roads and other areas.
He said Wednesday’s exercise marked the first stage of the group’s activities, adding that Dobe Anambra Ocha was committed to supporting efforts aimed at making Anambra a more liveable and sustainable state.
He also referenced Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s emphasis on environmental sustainability, saying that the environment remains an important component of the state’s development agenda while calling on NDI Anambra to embrace the solution agenda on environment.
“We are here to sensitise the people on the need to be cautious about our environment. Whatever activity you are engaged in, whether it is a business or office activity, after carrying it out, clean up the area and dispose of the waste properly,” Okafor said.
The group urged residents to take greater responsibility for their surroundings and cooperate with relevant authorities by using designated waste disposal points to help keep drainage channels clear and reduce the risk of flooding.