….. Says 98% Of Environmental Crisis Caused By Human Activity
Emmanuel Ikpeama
Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo has described environmental degradation and flooding as Anambra State’s greatest existential threat, warning that 98% of the crisis is caused by human actions.
Speaking during a milestone address and media engagement at the Light House, Awka to mark the state’s 35th anniversary, the Governor disclosed that over 30% of Anambra’s landmass has already been compromised, earning the state the unenviable tag of “gully erosion capital of Africa.” 
He attributed the worsening situation to blocked drainage channels, illegal structures on waterways, reckless excavation, and the loss of natural soil porosity.
Governor Soludo expressed concern that severe gully erosion is actively reducing the state’s total land area at a rate that exceeds government’s financial capacity to tackle alone.
“We must ask ourselves: what kind of Anambra are we handing over to the next generation?” he asked.
Moving away from what he called a reactive, government-only approach, the Governor announced a shift to a community-driven strategy involving local institutions, churches, town unions, Umunna, and other grassroots structures.
As part of the response, Soludo unveiled the comprehensive Anambra Clean and Green Initiative, built on four pillars: *Green, Clean, Planned, and Sustainable.*
The initiative aims to restore the ecosystem, improve urban planning, enforce environmental laws, and promote sustainable living across the 21 Local Government Areas.
The Governor urged every citizen to embrace tree planting and environmental stewardship.
“The scale of this crisis is more than what government alone can solve; we must collectivize the responsibility,” Soludo stated, as he officially flagged off the state-wide green revolution.
He charged Ndi Anambra to take ownership of the environment, warning that without collective action, flooding and erosion will continue to wipe out communities and farmlands.
