Flooding: Govt to sanction defaulters of ‘Operation Clear Your Waterways 3.0’

Anambra State Government has announced beginning of statewide clearance of waterways and drainage channels as part of measures to prevent flooding and environmental degradation ahead of the rainy season.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Tochukwu Obodogha, in a statement said the exercise, tagged: “Operation Clear Your Waterways 3.0,” is scheduled to begin on April 27.

He said the initiative was aimed at ensuring all waterways and drainage systems were free from silt, debris and waste materials that could obstruct free flow of rainwater.

He warned that failure to clear blocked waterways before the onset of heavy rainfall could result in flooding, erosion and environmental degradation, posing risks to lives and property.

According to him, defaulters would face appropriate sanctions.

Obodogha listed expected compliers to include religious organisations, landlord associations, market unions, motor park operators and schools.

“The directive applies to streets, estates, churches, mosques, abattoirs, shopping malls, neighbourhoods and other public spaces.

“All debris removed from drainage channels must be properly disposed of at designated locations, not left on roadsides, to avoid secondary pollution,” he said.

Federal Government, in a notice dated April 8, 2026 had identified several communities in Anambra as high-risk areas in its latest flood warning covering 10 states across the country.

The alert, issued by the National Flood Early Warning Centre under the Federal Ministry of Environment, predicted heavy rainfall and specifically listed Atani, Iyowa Odekpe and Onitsha in Anambra as communities likely to experience flooding.

It urged state governments and residents to take immediate precautionary measures.