By Ifeyinwa Ogwo
Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, has reaffirmed the Supreme Court judgment abolishing the creation of autonomous communities in the state, announcing that his administration will soon introduce a Community Administration Law to strengthen governance at the grassroots.
The Governor said the proposed law would formally recognise the 179 communities in Anambra State and include a schedule indicating the communities under each of the 21 Local Government Areas. According to him, the law will help resolve long standing disputes, particularly those involving town unions and community leadership.
Governor Soludo made the announcement during the second quarter meeting of the Anambra State Traditional Rulers Council held at the Amphitheatre, Anambra Lighthouse, Awka, on June 26.
He explained that the proposed legislation would provide legal clarity on the status of communities, just as the Nigerian Constitution recognises and schedules Local Government Areas. He noted that this would eliminate ambiguity over the number and identity of communities within each LGA.
Drawing from his personal experience, prof. Soludo recalled that his hometown, Isuofia, endured over two decades of conflict arising from autonomy disputes. He said peace was restored in 2017 when stakeholders agreed to reunite the community under one traditional ruler.
Governor Soludo observed that communities are presently administered through town unions, which are voluntary associations rather than legally constituted governments. He said this often creates leadership crises, as aggrieved groups can easily establish parallel town unions, resulting in prolonged disputes.
He stated that once the Community Administration Law is enacted, communities would function as a recognised fourth tier of administration with democratically elected officials, defined sources of revenue, and the potential to receive support from both the state and local government councils, thereby strengthening grassroots governance across all 179 communities.
The Governor also appreciated the traditional rulers for their support during his re-election campaign and assured them of his continued commitment to the development of Anambra State.
Speaking on environmental challenges, Governor Soludo expressed concern over the persistent problems of flooding and gully erosion across the state. He noted that many roadside drainage channels lack proper discharge points, while uncontrolled runoff from residential buildings and indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drains continue to worsen flooding, erosion, and road deterioration.
He urged traditional rulers, President-Generals, and Local Government Chairmen to intensify public sensitisation on proper environmental sanitation by discouraging waste disposal in drainages, ensuring regular desilting of drains, and encouraging residents to channel runoff water into soakaway pits within their compounds.
“Let us work together to make the new Anambra, which is on the rise, a reality,” the Governor appealed.
*Ifeyinwa Ogwo is of the Ministry of Information and Value Reformation, Anambra State
