By Chizoba Okeke
The Anambra State House of Assembly Committee on Works and Infrastructure has expressed concern over the indiscriminate discharge of domestic wastewater into public drainage channels, warning that the practice poses a serious threat to the durability and sustainability of ongoing road infrastructure projects across the state.
The committee issued the warning on July 3 during an oversight inspection of the ongoing 1.8-kilometre interlocking road and drainage construction project at Iyiowa Odekpe, where members assessed the quality of work and the level of progress achieved by the contractor.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Works and Infrastructure, Hon. Emma Nwafor, said the visit was part of the committee’s constitutional oversight responsibility to monitor the execution of road projects, evaluate the quality of work, and ensure contractors comply with approved standards and project timelines.
During the inspection, the Project Contractor, Engr. Jack Afara, decried the continued practice of residents channeling wastewater from their homes into newly constructed drainage systems. He warned that the development was already affecting the efficiency of the drainage network.
Engr. Afara urged property owners to construct standard soakaway systems to properly manage domestic wastewater. He also called on community leaders and residents to sustain regular environmental sanitation exercises to keep drainage channels free of waste and silt. “Protecting public infrastructure is a collective responsibility,” he said.
The committee commended the quality of the drainage network, interlocking pavement and other engineering components of the project, describing the workmanship as satisfactory.
The lawmakers also inspected the ongoing school road project at Iyiowa Odekpe, where contractors again highlighted the growing challenge of indiscriminate waste disposal into drainage channels. They warned that continued misuse of the facilities could undermine the effectiveness and lifespan of the drainage infrastructure.
Despite the engineering difficulties involved in rehabilitating badly deteriorated roads, the committee praised the contractors for maintaining steady progress and delivering quality work under challenging conditions, including difficult terrain and existing structural defects along sections of the road.
The committee reaffirmed its commitment to sustained oversight of public infrastructure projects across Anambra State and urged residents to support government efforts by safeguarding completed projects through responsible environmental practices.
It stressed that protecting public infrastructure is essential to ensuring lasting development and maximizing the value of public investment.
Chizoba Okeke is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
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