₦airaland Forum

Dr. Ifedi Okwenna, former Commissioner for Environment and National Resources, Anambra State, cuts the picture of a man desperate to better his environment. Being the Director General, Centre for Environmental Disaster Management (CEDM), he examines the Nnewi industrial town in this interview with Correspondent, Okey Maduforo, which began yesterday. Excerpts.
What are impacts of urbanization of Nnewi? The urbanization of Nnewi has great socio-political impacts. Today, Nnewi alone has more than 10 political wards and one single local government in itself. It is the seat of the Anambra South Senatorial Zone and the melting pot of the Anambra South politics. It influences to a large extent, the politics of Anambra South. It is also seat of both the Catholic and Anglican Dioceses with many parishes and parsonages as well as seat of other churches and groups. Cultural activities have increased as many cultural associations have emerged. In addition to the advancement of Nnewi Culture, town union branches of several towns and villages whose indigenes are resident in Nnewi exist here and advance their rich culture within the confines of this town. In the area of employment, urbanization of Nnewi has brought in its trail, massive employment for people. The town is home to a number of industries, commercial centre and trade posts and these have provided job opportunities to both skilled and unskilled workers. But be that as it may, the current urbanization trend of Nnewi has a number of negative consequences. Some of these consequences range from poor and unplanned land use pattern, poor environmental sanitation. The massive urbanization has led to the generation of considerable amount of solid waste in Nnewi. These solid wastes are generated from numerous households, markets, industries and factories, informal sector craft and retail touts and passengers. These solid wastes are unsightly destroys the aesthetic and amenity values of urban roads, walkways, parks and other public places. Notable example is the Ugwuakpatiozu site on the Okigwe-Oba highway. These refuse heaps constitute health hazards and are breeding grounds for disease organisms. In some cases, it causes numerous air pollution related hazards as a result of occasional burning of the wastes. Nnewi is growing spatially, both laterally and vertically without any urban regulations or control. This had led to under- intergraded urban spatial / physical structures, incongruent skylines, unplanned wards or building / development sites, non-existence of serviced estates
and plots and non-harmonious landscape. The road network in Nnewi is also very awful and uncoordinated, perhaps, the history of most of the roads showed that they were the ancestral footpaths, which were used to navigate to other villages and or to the farms. These are the roads now adapted as city roads and which is now been tarred to service the city. Thus traffic circulation is poor leading to bottlenecks as peak periods especially at Nkwo triangle roundabout, Igwe Orizu Road Junction, Ibeto. There's also problem of existence of uncontrolled and unauthorized traffic terminals, halts or parking, resulting in frequent traffic accidents within the streets. There is the tendency to feel very insecure in Nnewi and many other Nigerian cities. This may be real or imaginary for both human life and for property. This is compounded by numerous cases of armed robbery and other crimes reported in parts of the town. Uncontrolled emission of pollutants is another big problem of Nnewi urbanization. Major urban pollutants such as carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, surphur dioxide and nitrous oxides, suspended particulate matter and organic wastes. Reaction of these pollutants with water leads to acid rain, increase in green house gas emission and its attendant global warming. Organic pollutants in water bodies when discharges untreated cause microbial contamination, eutrophication and reduction in dissolved oxygen. The urbanization problem in Nnewi also led to the development of devastating erosion sites, which have threatened businesses and residents of the area. Because the area was not properly planned, channeling of flood did not receive its fair plan. For in instance, in areas such Nnewi Ichi, Otolo Nnewi, Umudim Nnewi, Obiofia, Okofia, Ukpor and
so many others, people and businesses in are heavily threatened by the menace. When I was there as the commissioner for environment in Anambra lots of jobs were done to restore the situation but don't forget its long age devastation, beside such capital intensive project surely is too bogus for the state government alone or even the individuals to handle. From your experience, how do you think that the urbanisation of
Nnewi and the entire Anambra State should be managed? At 5.3 per cent average urbanisation rate and 20 per cent urban youth unemployment, Nigerian urbanization is one of the fastest in the world. It is a time bomb waiting to explode. With the industrial town of Nnewi, this threat is even more real. There is therefore a very urgent need to develop a dynamic system of urban settlement, which will promote sustainable socio-economic and environmental growth, promote effective urban development system, efficient service delivery and ensure improved standard of
living and well-being of all residents and visitors to the city. First, the issue of modern master plan should be developed. Despite the current urbanisation trend, Nnewi is still growing in the pre-colonial traditionalism and is partitioned in its original four quarters of Otolo, Uruagu, Umudim and Nnewichi. There is no strategic plan for sustainable growth and expansion. The master plan for Nnewi is therefore very necessary. I am aware that the state government has commissioned a group to study and produce the master plan for Awka, Onitsha and Nnewi. This is highly commendable but the group should complete the assignment as it has tarried. Apart from the master plan, cadastral maps, base maps needed for urban planning and management should be commissioned for Nnewi and other adjoining towns and villages. Following from the production of the master plan, cadastral maps, a re-planning scheme should be implemented. The scheme is to ensure that a strategic action is in place for the full implementation of the Nnewi Urban Master Plan. Urban Planning is a subset of urban development, which is the totality of the urban landscape, and environment and it is to precede action, more so in the area of urban growth and development. As development continues unplanned, there is need to re- plan and ensure renewal of strategic locations especially ancestral areas and other areas occupied by the natives, which inadvertently had turned or are turning to urban slums.
The re-planning shall include the need for urban planning education for political leader, city managers and all other stakeholders who are concerned with orderly development and good governance of the city. Efficient management of land uses in the city is also very essential. The need for prior planning before the use of any land is imperative use of any land including marginal lands and its suitability ought to be predetermined through a conscious plan preparation. Failure to do this always leads to loss of optimal return on land. The re-certification of land should
be taken seriously here and efficient data need to be documented for easy retrieval. That will not only lead to orderly development but will ensure that land titles and purpose clauses are easily known and enforced. Civil societies, town unions, neighborhood and community organization, professional associates, women groups, chambers of commerce, should all be strengthened to participate in decision-making process for the city. For effective and sustainable administrative system in Nnewi, decision-making process must be fully participatory and all urban governance decision-making and implementation strategies and activities must be transparent
and accountable to the generality of the citizens of Nnewi. Only when the urban governance
is democratic enough will the inhabitants duly take ownership in ensuring the sustainable growth of the city. They should also be consideration for urban infrastructure upgrading such as road, water supply, electricity, street lightings, public buildings, and telecommunication. These are called physical infrastructure, while school, colleges, health centres hospitals, public conveniences, burial grounds, town halls, recreation centers, parks and gardens, markets, motor parks, abattoirs are called socio-economic infrastructure.

bboiabb: Please Moderator close this thread. We have total idiots talking. Pls watch the video again...if you have a functioning brain you will see that enyeama couldn't see the ball...why will he dive if he cant see the ball in the first place People like you annoy me.

dont mind him, thats what APCs knows how to do better, always talking off point

Mr Renaissance: Must you display your idiocy in the cyberspace? We know you are dumb, but don't add retardéd to your burgeoning CV of madness. If your sister was among the Chibok, you wouldn't be spewing this hunkum.

abeg lower ur grammer, we are not in english class, we are based on realistic here

Sirniyeh: hello my brother,
what gives you the conviction that no single person in sambisa?

The rescued girls made references to sambisa

The close Army associates made reference to sambisa

The International Organisation Intteligence report, after scanned through) made reference to sambisa

The Foot soldiers lament that the camp is no go area compare to the available weapons

The Chibok girls search crew got to a village, the villagers instructed them not to dare the camp.

Are you saying they have no base?
Now can you please convince me with references to butress your conlusion?

do shekau looks like someone living in a forest? Why have any soldier meet one of thos escapee(kidnapped girls)? Are those foreign helps(americans, britains) that claimed to see the girl in camera still in nigeria? , my dear reason like a matured guy for once, must you believe every news?

Demdem:
Fool, can u prove the fact that she hasn't done this internally before going public with it? Now that it's in public, why do fools like u are against it?
I have no issue with mark and co succking Jonathan balls however fools like u do complain when the house sometimes go against the drunkard policy.
U lot are hypocrites.

lol, why is it that apc members always like to address to people with 'FOOLS' ?

my dear, there is no body in sambisa, dont mind thoes fake news about sambisa

ednut1: do we have a govt self?

and you forgot that you are the govt, ask yourself what is your duty to make nigeria a better place

if you ever believed this story, dont wait until someone calls you a fool, because a fool is much better than you. #lies_lies_sambisa_chibok

all this story of chibok, sambisa are all lies

Lanceslot: Idiots..... GEJ should declare operation sweep in their territory.

my president is a humble man, he has a peaceful way of handling such issues, we dont need blood shed again in this country

Are they jumping from pdp to apc just for the sake of nigeria or selfish interest? See how nigeria corruption have been exposed, God bless you mr president, may you live long life and prosperity. We nigerians are behind you, help us by sacking every corrupt one around you, nigerian leadership must be free from corruption, hit me like if you love nigeria as a country and the latest exposing development we are seeing

I could remember, in one 2face music titled 'e be like say' he wrote'why do u keep on deceiving your people, why do u make dem to hate and fight each other, only God can judje u now' and that was why edderis came out and sing 'nigeria jaga jaga' i guess that was also an open letter to the mr president then, i could remember that the respond that was given to edderies was 'na your mama and ur papa scatter nigeria' Obasanjo, without been tribalistic, you are the problem of nigeria today, die and leave us to be at peace and love each other

soe: GEJ SIMPLY MEANS : OBJ...you know you were corrupt and that's muritala wanted to remove you, no wonder you killed him and took over power. You even killed dimka to cover up....Waoh!!! Gej you are bold oo..but hope you know you are creating enemies with past leaders...the only friend Gej has now is Gowon who feels OBJ owes for overthrowing his regime...Nawa o...Gej has said so much to rubbish OBJ...and so..he has bitten the fingers that fed him...obviously I know some people are brainwashing him...it will be too late when he discovers... I know OBJ to be Mr Never forgive.. And I know he will turn many people against Gej asap...if OBJ could finish abacha...from the prison oo...then Gej needs to watch his back very closely this time. Even Atiku knows this...

You know why I like Nairaland? It is because I have a feeling that whatever we say on frontpage gets straight to those in Power, they all read our frontpage comment. Now, Talking To GEJ and OBJ...the two of you should part ways and let us see whether it is Obasanjo that determines the Next President, or it is any Sitting President that determines it. Ah Ah, according to history, Only OBJ has decided which civilian to rule, He put Shagari, He put Himself, He put Yar'Adua, He put GEJ....only one man fa!...Now, I want to know the truth, is OBJ the one in charge? or is it the Incumbent President that decides...mind you Mr Gej...Old soldier never die oo,,,.as long as OBJ na Soldier, forget, He would have stronger links in the army than you ooo..therefore, do not attempt any military or police war against these fmr heads of state, I am begging you. Me I am just saying my own oo, am just keeping it REAL....koledowo...did i tell you to say that? lol

is OBJ God? The bible says fear not for i am with you, lets wait and see what will happen

Johnathan is not a fool like obasanjo and buhari who opens their mouth all the time to talk rubbish like some of niaralanders, wait till 2015 and see what God will surely do for his people, GEJ is chosen one by God, so any attempt to oppose him is an attempt on your God, let me learn from him and keep quiet and wait and see the work of God for nigeria

Cubeet: it seems going on strike is the best way to express our anger to the govt. Thank you NMA

forgoten that iys still the only way to currupt nigeria

ilugunboy: A politically savvy President would have done everything in his powers to have Rotimi Ameachi ( the most vociferous supporter of the President prior to the debacle) in his camp. I lost all political respect for him the day he allowed the wife to embarrass the governor.

He made it worse by his failure to manage his crisis with OBJ properly and allowing the hawks...political hanger on and opportunists in the Presidency to throw cheap punch at the old fox.

shame on you, are for nigeria or are you against nigeria, do you know what conspired between OBJ and GEJ? You are the kinds of people we dont want in nigeria

vedaxcool: Well while I prefer the opposition starting on a clean sheet, Jonathan prove to be poorly versed in critical thinking how does a president retain a party chairman with limited electoral value and loose govs who have wider value in election , clearly one whom the gods wants to punish they make mad.

and you are calling on God to salvate Nigeria, foolish man

Royal Roy: I see impeachment plot getting thick in 2014 for GEJ.

then get ready to defend your father land because their will be WAR

greggng: My people let us look at the brighter side of things. Two party system is exactly what nigeria need. This will enhance democracy and health competition. Democracy without opposition is dead. Shame to pdp who thinks the can rule nigeria for 60 years

is it not the same corrupt people in pdp that is now in apc?

melicent: See them all ( thieves).

these are still the same group of criminals that destroy Nigeria when dey were in PDP, now they have change their part name to start where they stop, i wish you all plane crash before 2015

andyanders: Till date, OBJ is yet to tell Nigerians what happened to the $16 billion dollars NEPA (PHCN) money and also the National ID card money that happened during his tenure as the president.

In fact, I cannot reconcile the letter he wrote to GEJ at this point. Does he think that Nigerians just forget easily? I believe when OBJ dies, the way Nigerians celebrated the demise of Abacha, same way Nigerians will celebrate the passing away of OBJ.

that will be if he will be alive till 2015

egift: Jonathan should be man enough and tell Nigerians if what OBJ accused him is true or not. Rather than this hide and seek game.

i guess that you have forgoten that silence is the best answer to a fool

If animals can pray, what stops we human beings from adoring the almighty

[quote author=born_to_be_gr8t]Seriously i won't advice any guy to marry a girl without first sampling her for the following reasons


1. Some girls have an offensive väginal odour ,that when get undressed the entire house go dey ooze
[/quote]this is the worst of all, i have been a witness of that

God is at work, one day, a son of one of the boko haram sponsor will come out publicly to expose his father,

Tell me more

Jealousy, i guess is worse than aids

Why cant we nigerians come to our senses and figure out why all this politicians are not happy, decamping to APC, its just like in a situation whereby am working in an organization and was looting theri money, and it comes a change in management and proper check ups is now been done in my department, the next option for me is to quit, exactly thats what is happening in nigeria today, goodluck could not give them chance again thats why they are runing for where there is help and room for looting

PrettySpicey: Is there really a difference

thats what am still asking most of them?

Running from anglican church to lord's choosen does not make u a born again, or even trying to win more souls for God, but just because you heard that their is miracle there, politicians running from one party to another, hahahahahahaha, they dont care for the country anymore, just been selfish, i guess that GEJ could not give them chance to steal money again thats why they are running after a notourious party that will give room to criminals