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Several student hostels, business premises, churches and a market in the Awka South Local Government Area (LGA) of Anambra State have been sealed by the state government for violating environmental sanitation regulations.
The Anambra State Government recently declared a state of emergency on environmental sanitation and designated Saturdays as Environmental Sanitation Day.
As part of the initiative, residents, communities and businesses were directed to observe a sanitation exercise, with movement restricted between 6 a.m. and 11 a.m. on Saturday.
According to Punch, operatives of Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra sealed several facilities during the exercise, including Emmanuel Lodge, Mandona Lodge, Love Ambassadors Ministry, Lucky Up Shops, Eto Lodge, First Choice Lodge, Gift Lodge, Dominion City, Don Greg UNIZIK Park and Eke Nibo Market over sanitation violations.
The Commander of Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra in Awka South LGA, Prince Ikechukwu Ndigwe, said the enforcement team uncovered serious environmental violations at the affected facilities.
“During the inspection, the affected facilities were sealed after it was discovered that they violated sanitation laws. Some of the affected facilities had been discharging wastewater, including sewage from toilets, into public drainage channels, creating health hazards for residents,” he said.
Ndigwe urged residents to report buildings showing signs of structural defects, particularly visible cracks. He added that a monitoring committee comprising representatives of the local government, relevant enforcement agencies and student affairs authorities was inaugurated about three months ago to receive reports of distressed buildings and other environmental hazards.
The enforcement leader of the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority, Nwachukwu Obiorah, corroborated Ndigwe’s position, saying the visible cracks observed in some buildings raised serious safety concerns and necessitated detailed structural integrity assessments.
Obiorah said prompt reporting of buildings showing signs of distress would help prevent possible structural failures and protect lives.
