By Our Reporter.
Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has moved to recognise autonomous communities as the fourth tier of government in the state.
This even as the governor an environmental emergency over worsening flooding, gully erosion, blocked waterways and indiscriminate sand mining.
Prof. Soludo stated this during a meeting of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers’ Council at the Light House, Awka.
He said the state government would soon introduce a Community Administration Law that would formally define communities within each local government area and strengthen grassroots governance.
The governor said the proposed legislation followed the recent Supreme Court judgment on autonomous communities, which he noted had settled long-standing disputes over their legal status in Anambra.
According to him, the law will contain a schedule of all communities that make up each local government area and address recurring tensions surrounding the operations of town unions.
“Currently, our communities are being governed by town unions, but ideally they are voluntary associations.
“That is why you have multiple town unions in some communities. When we are done, communities will become the fourth tier of government,” Soludo said.
He explained that the reform is intended to provide a clear legal framework for community administration and eliminate governance conflicts arising from the existence of parallel town union structures.
The governor also raised alarm over what he described as Anambra’s greatest existential threat, warning that flooding and gully erosion are rapidly consuming the state’s already limited landmass.
He directed the immediate desilting of drainage channels across the state and ordered an end to indiscriminate sand mining, saying both human activities have significantly worsened erosion and flood risks.
“Let me draw your attention to the emergency we face—the environment, flooding and gully erosion. It is Anambra’s number one existential threat,” he said.
“While Lagos is expanding into the ocean, Anambra is shrinking. Whole communities are being swallowed by erosion.
:Even if we devote the state’s entire budget for the next 10 years, we will not significantly scratch the surface of this challenge.”
Soludo blamed much of the environmental degradation on poor human practices, including channeling runoff water directly onto roads, dumping refuse into drainage systems and uncontrolled sand excavation.
He warned that blocked waterways destroy road infrastructure, increase flooding and threaten lives and property across the state.
The governor called on traditional rulers to spearhead environmental protection campaigns in their respective communities by ensuring that drainage channels remain unobstructed and environmental regulations are strictly observed.
Reflecting on his administration’s progress, Soludo contrasted the security challenges that marked the beginning of his first term with the current atmosphere of relative stability.
He recalled that his first inauguration was conducted under emergency conditions but assured the traditional rulers that his administration would remain focused on fulfilling its campaign promises.
“We will continue working to deliver on our mandate. Let us keep pushing for the new Anambra. New Anambra is on the rise, and we are on course,” he said.
The meeting was attended by the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Dr. Ben Nwankwo; Commissioner for Local Government, Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Mr. Vin Ezeaka; Chairman of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers’ Council, Igwe Chidubem Iweka, senior government officials and traditional rulers.
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