Anambra State government has launched a statewide clearance of waterways and drainage channels to curb flooding before the rainy season. The exercise, titled "Operation Clear Your Waterways 3.0," is set to begin on April 27, as indicated in a public notice signed by Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Tochukwu Obodogha.
Obodogha said the initiative aims to eliminate silt, debris and waste that could block rainwater flow, warning that blocked waterways may trigger flooding, erosion and environmental damage, endangering lives and property.
The notice calls on residents, religious organisations, landlord associations, market unions, motor‑park operators and schools to take part, covering streets, estates, churches, mosques, abattoirs, shopping malls, neighbourhoods and other public spaces. Removed debris must be taken to designated disposal sites; defaulters will face appropriate sanctions.
A federal alert dated April 8 from the National Flood Early Warning Centre identified Atani, Iyowa Odekpe and Onitsha in Anambra as high‑risk communities and warned of heavy rainfall across ten states, urging immediate precautionary measures.
Tochukwu Obodogha's push for "Operation Clear Your Waterways 3.0" signals a decisive state‑level response to looming flood threats.
The move comes after the federal flood warning singled out Atani, Iyowa Odekpe and Onitsha as vulnerable, showing the state is translating national alerts into concrete local action.
If the clearance succeeds, households in those towns, market traders, commuters and schoolchildren stand to avoid property loss and displacement; failure to comply could invite penalties and leave communities exposed to flood damage.
Such targeted clean‑up drives echo a growing trend of Nigerian states adopting hands‑on mitigation steps following federal early‑warning notices, pointing toward a more localized approach to disaster management.
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