The Anambra Government says it will begin the implementation of its Environmental Management, Protection and Administration Law, 2024 on Monday.
The Commissioner for Environment, Dr Felix Odimegwu, disclosed this at a news briefing in Awka.
“Following extensive sensitisation, public education and stakeholders consultations across the state over the past one year, the Ministry of Environment will now apply the provisions of this law fully, firmly, and without exception,” he said.
Odimegwu said that the law aims at safeguarding public health, strengthening climate resilience, preventing flooding and erosion and ensuring orderly, sustainable environmental management across all communities in the state.
He said that the key areas of enforcement include Environmental Impact Assessment compliance, storm water control, runoff management and catchment systems and setbacks and drainage infrastructure.
Other areas are landscaping and green zone requirement, aesthetics and urban beautification enforcement and sewage, wastewater and effluent regulation.
The commissioner said that the law would be enforced in urban areas such as Awka, Onitsha, Nnewi and Ekwulobia.
He also said that violators of the law, corporate bodies and individuals would be made to pay fines, ranging from half-a-million to ₦1 million or an option of three months imprisonment.