A frontline governorship aspirant in the November 18 governorship election in Anambra State, and a former Secretary to the State Government, Mr. Oseloka Obaze, has advised policy makers to always put into consideration the population density, waste water volume, rain water volume and solid waste volume before providing adequate drainage and refuse disposal systems.

Obaze described the devastating effects of climate change in the South-East region as being compounded by environmental blight and degradation.

Obaze who spoke at Obosi last weekend, cited Anambra State as an example saying that the situation has worsened with growing gully erosion.

He said, “At the last count, there are over 1,000 active erosion sites in Anambra State, most of which are yet to receive the aggressive remediation so desperately needed.

“The season of torrential rainfall, which has set in and usually peaks in August, will further compound the prevailing challenges. The season is usually characterized by heavy flooding, and devastating erosion as the aftermath.

“Heavy rainfall may have devastating effect, but this is worsened, when policy and enforcement mechanism fail and people are allowed to build on waterways, flood channels, and old river plains. As we blame the rains, we must also blame failed public policies; failed enforcement regimes and the people too for flooding disasters.”

While saying that the most erosion-affected communities in the state like Obosi feel neglected, the retired Diplomat maintained that the heavy presence of active erosion sites in the state has been further compounded by human factors.

He said that while flooding is inevitable after heavy rain falls, a combination of policy failure, poor infrastructure and planning, lax enforcement, attitude of the people combine to exacerbate the situation.

Obaze, however, decried the bad cultural habit, where citizens dump their garbage into rushing rain flood, saying that such waste disposals only clog up already inefficient gutters and drainages.

On possible remedial measures, the former Secretary to the State Government urged people to be conscious of climate change and its overall negative impact on the environment.

He added, “We must learn not dispose refuse indiscriminately and not to cut down trees unnecessarily; we must also learn to plant grass and trees in order to protect the soil from the direct impact of rain.”

The governorship aspirant however called on concerned authorities to be proactive in its drainage and waste disposal methods saying that the present system is inadequate and far too inefficient.

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