The "Environment" pillar of the Soludo Agenda is anchored on the vision of a "Clean, Green, Planned, and Sustainable Anambra.
Governor Soludo often describes Anambra as the “erosion capital of the world” with a landmass that is shrinking due to environmental degradation. Therefore, this agenda is not just about aesthetics; it is an existential battle to save the state’s land and make it livable.
1. The War on Filth: “Clean Anambra”
Upon assuming office, the administration met a waste management crisis, with heaps of refuse taking over major roads. The agenda focuses on a systemic overhaul of how the state handles waste.
Restructuring ASWAMA: The Anambra State Waste Management Authority (ASWAMA) was restructured for efficiency. The state moved away from the chaotic dumping system to a more regulated, zone-based collection model.
Community Participation: The agenda reintroduced the monthly sanitation exercise to instill a culture of cleanliness.
Desilting Drainages: A massive campaign was launched to clear blocked drainages, particularly in Onitsha and Obosi, where clogged canals were causing perennial flooding. The administration enforces strict penalties for dumping refuse in gutters.
2. Erosion Control: “Saving the Land”
With over 1,000 active erosion sites, Anambra faces an ecological emergency. The Soludo Agenda prioritizes both preventive and curative measures.
NEWMAP Partnership: The state continues to partner with the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) to remediate critical gully erosion sites.
Preventive Policy: The government has declared a “war” on sand mining and unplanned construction on water channels, which are the primary human causes of erosion.
Agile Response: Rapid intervention teams are deployed to check “incipient” gully sites before they become massive disasters, focusing on controlling runoff water properly.
3. The Green Campaign: “Greening the Homeland”
This initiative links environmental sustainability with economic gain, ensuring that “going green” puts money in people’s pockets.
The Palm & Coconut Revolution:
As mentioned in the Economic pillar, this is also a major reforestation project.
Strategy: By planting millions of economic trees (oil palm and coconut), the state combats soil erosion and reduces its carbon footprint while creating wealth. Roots of these trees help bind the soil.
Urban Forestry: A mandate for new buildings and public spaces to include green areas. The goal is to cool the cities and improve air quality.
4. Urban Planning: “Planned and Orderly”
The Soludo Agenda argues that an environment cannot be clean if it is unplanned. The focus is on stopping the growth of slums.
Master Plans: The administration is enforcing the development master plans for the major cities (Awka, Onitsha, Nnewi) to prevent haphazard building.
Correction of Violations: This involves the demolition of illegal structures built on drainage channels, power lines, or green zones. While controversial, the government maintains this is necessary to prevent flooding and restore order.
Solution Fun City: The construction of the “Solution Fun City” in Awka is not just for entertainment but to create a designated, well-planned green space for leisure, contrasting with the concrete jungle of existing cities.