The Anambra State House of Assembly Committee on Works and Infrastructure has expressed concern over the increasing practice of dumping domestic waste into public drainage channels, warning that the unhealthy habit is damaging road infrastructure across the state.
The committee said blocked drainage systems are already threatening the lifespan of roads constructed by the Anambra State Government with public funds and called on residents to change their attitude towards waste disposal.
The lawmakers gave the warning during an inspection of ongoing road projects in different parts of the state as part of the committee’s constitutional oversight responsibility to assess the quality of work being carried out by contractors.
Speaking during the inspection, the Chairman of the House Committee on Works and Infrastructure, Emma Nwafor, said the exercise was aimed at ensuring that road projects executed by the state government meet approved standards and deliver value for taxpayers’ money.
According to him, the committee is committed to monitoring infrastructure projects to ensure contractors comply with the required specifications and complete projects that will stand the test of time.
Nwafor said, “This oversight exercise is aimed at ensuring that government road projects are executed according to approved specifications and that the people derive maximum value from public funds.”
The committee inspected the ongoing 1.8-kilometre interlocking road and drainage project at Iyiowa Odekpe and expressed satisfaction with the quality and pace of work on the project.
The lawmaker commended the contractor handling the project, noting that the standard of work observed during the inspection met expectations.
However, he said the benefits of such projects could easily be lost if residents continue to dump refuse into drainage channels meant to control flooding and protect roads.
“We have inspected the ongoing 1.8-kilometre interlocking road and drainage project at Iyiowa Odekpe, and we are impressed with the quality of work delivered so far,” Nwafor said.
“But we want to warn about the culture of clogging our drainages with wastes. It poses great danger to public infrastructure and we want our people to stop it.”
According to him, drainage systems are an important part of road construction because they help channel rainwater away from roads, reducing erosion and preventing flooding that can weaken road foundations.
He warned that when drains are blocked with refuse, water is unable to flow freely, leading to flooding, damaged pavements, erosion and the gradual collapse of roads.
The committee noted that the state government has invested huge resources in road construction and rehabilitation to improve transportation, support economic activities and connect communities across Anambra State.
It stressed that protecting the infrastructure is not the responsibility of the government alone but also that of residents who use the roads daily.
The lawmakers urged members of the public to avoid throwing household waste, plastics, sand and other materials into drainage channels, saying such actions increase the cost of maintaining public infrastructure.
The committee also appealed to community leaders, traditional rulers, youth groups and residents’ associations to educate people on proper environmental sanitation practices and encourage regular cleaning of drainage systems.
The warning comes as many urban centres across Nigeria continue to experience flooding caused largely by blocked drainage channels, especially during the rainy season.
Also speaking during the inspection, the Project Coordinator, Jack Afara, expressed concern that some residents had already begun diverting wastewater from their homes into newly constructed drainage channels.
According to him, the practice has started affecting the efficiency of the drainage system and could reduce the lifespan of the road project if allowed to continue.
Afara explained that drainage channels constructed along roads are designed mainly to carry stormwater during rainfall and not wastewater from residential buildings.
He said allowing household wastewater to flow into public drains could lead to the accumulation of waste materials, foul odour, silt and other substances that obstruct the free flow of water.
He advised homeowners to construct proper soakaway systems within their compounds instead of connecting wastewater pipes directly to roadside drains.
“Every property owner should provide a standard soakaway system, while community leaders and residents must sustain regular environmental sanitation to ensure that drainage channels remain free of waste and silt,” Afara said.
“Protecting public infrastructure is a collective responsibility.”
He added that government alone cannot preserve road infrastructure without the cooperation of residents and communities benefiting from the projects.
The project coordinator also encouraged local communities to report anyone found dumping refuse into drainage channels or engaging in activities capable of damaging public infrastructure.
In recent years, the Anambra State Government has increased investment in road construction and urban renewal projects aimed at improving transportation, easing traffic congestion and opening up communities for economic development.
Several roads across the state have either been reconstructed or are undergoing rehabilitation as part of the government’s infrastructure development programme.
The House Committee on Works and Infrastructure said it would continue carrying out routine inspections of ongoing projects to ensure contractors maintain quality standards while also encouraging communities to protect completed infrastructure.