The Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, cautioned Onitsha landlords against defacing the city, emphasizing that the government will no longer tolerate such actions.
Ibezim delivered this warning during an interactive session with Onitsha South Local Government Area landlords at the council secretariat on Wednesday.
Additionally, he announced a N10 million cash award for the first street in Onitsha to complete repainting their buildings between February 1 and March 10, 2024.
During the session, the deputy governor, also observed that most houses in Onitsha do not have soak-away pits, while those that do channel them into the Sakamori drainage system and Nwangene River, thereby causing health hazards to inhabitants, and this “does not speak well of the largest commercial town in sub-Saharan Africa.”
He said, “The essence of this meeting is for us to interface with you all, the landlords, on the need to clear the blocked drains, clear the refuse dumps, plant trees, and paint your buildings to give this place a face lift.”
The Commissioner for Environment, Felix Odimegwu, also stressed that the main thrust of the meeting with the landlords was to sensitize them to the need to clear the drains, plant trees, and paint their buildings.
Odimegwu said, “We are here as a follow up to the last visit where our governor sent his deputy to come and interact with the Fegge landlords on the degeneration and facelift of Onitsha.
“We want to do this thing in three folds, repainting, where the governor brought out a challenge called, “Ka Anambra Chakee,” which prompted the governor to set a cash gift for any street that comes together, discuss and embark on this initiative, and paint from street end to street end.
“Each street that paints her houses and finishes them before March 10 will come first, and receive N10 million, while the second and third will get N5 million and N3 million, respectively.
“Another one is the cleaning of drainages. Onitsha was last rated as the dirtiest place in West Africa, but this government, since it came, has deliberated to change Onitsha from the present narrative and place it on the right direction it should be.
“Since solid road construction is going on, it will be an eyesore that the environments, buildings within these roads are dilapidated, We all know that paint helps protect houses, so we are here to appreciate the governor.
“Fegge is well planned, when we paint all our houses, plant trees, it will make your properties valuable, appreciate naturally, and also be conducive for foreign investors and businesses.”
He averred that the World Health Organization has also made it known that 60 percent of the causes of ailments are from the environment, adding that a clean environment with good air, and good food would scare sickness away.
He enthused, “The local government chairman fixed this meeting today for ginger Onitsha landlords, and as you are doing it, Awka landlords are also doing theirs; likewise, Awada and the chairman are trying to see that Onitsha landlords come first. If these first, second, and third positions come to Onitsha South, it will be remarkable.
The local council chairman, Chief Emeka Joseph Orji, explained that in the last year, his administration has been able to enforce cleanliness and remove illegal structures as well as shops built on top of the culverts.
Orji said that the council area would stop at nothing to put Onitsha in its position, adding that there should be no sacred cows as those that were against the law would face the music.
As the deadline for the competition draws near, anticipation continues to build in Onitsha. Streets are abuzz with activity as landlords mobilize their resources and rally their communities to participate in the revitalization effort. With N10 million up for grabs and the promise of a brighter, more vibrant city on the horizon, the house repainting competition represents a golden opportunity for Onitsha to reclaim its status as a shining beacon of progress and prosperity in Anambra State.
