The Anambra State Government has taken a strong stance against environmental offenders, sealing hotels and other business premises in a bid to enforce environmental laws and protect the state’s ecosystem.
The Managing Director of OCHA Brigade, Celestine Anere, who led the enforcement team on Sunday emphasised the necessity of the action, stating, “The issue of disobeying environmental laws has become a perennial problem that is posing a serious threat to the sanity of the environment and the ecosystem in general.”
Anere also highlighted the public outcry over the environmental state of the areas where the businesses are located, which prompted the enforcement.
He further stressed the government’s commitment to maintaining a clean and healthy environment, stating, “The state government has declared zero tolerance to environmental pollution and we are poised to safeguarding and upholding every government policy that will promote the vision of a clean, green, healthy, livable and prosperous homeland in the state.”
The crackdown is part of the Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra initiative, with Anere revealing that more enforcement teams have been created to allow residents to report environmental issues in their communities. Most of the affected business premises were located in Awka and environs.
