By Our Correspondent
Panic is spreading across parts of Anambra State as Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo has dropped a bombshell directive: Repaint your buildings by July 1 or face sanctions!
In a bold move to transform Anambra into a cleaner, greener, and smarter state, the government has rolled out “Operation Repaint Your Buildings (Ka Anambra Chakee)”—a sweeping order compelling homeowners and shop owners to give their buildings a fresh coat of paint, especially those visible to the public.
The directive is backed by the Anambra State Environmental Management, Protection and Administration Law 2024, and was announced in a public notice dated June 17, 2025, signed by the Commissioner for Environment, Engr. Dr. Felix Odimegwu.
According to the notice, government inspectors will begin building inspections immediately across key cities including Onitsha, Awka, Nkpor, Nnewi, and Ekwulobia, while full enforcement begins July 1, 2025.“
This exercise is aimed at strengthening existing building structures, improving the aesthetic ambience, and expanding the green space of the state,” Dr. Odimegwu said.
Buildings that haven’t been repainted in the last 10 years, or those with peeling, faded, or unsightly paint, are firmly in the government’s sights—particularly those located in public view (anya ora).
The legal authority for this action stems from Part 4, Section 79 (1–7) of the 2024 environmental law, which empowers the Ministry of Environment to enforce measures for environmental improvement and urban beautification.
“A clean, beautiful, and eco-friendly Anambra is possible if we join hands together to improve her aesthetic ambience,” the commissioner added.
The government has urged residents and business owners to comply immediately, warning that failure to do so will attract penalties as provided by law.
Reacting to the development, a resident of Nnewi, John Nwosu, described the government’s order on the repainting of houses as “dead on arrival.”
He said, “People should first have food on their tables in these hard times before talking about repainting houses. This is a wrong decision at this time.”
In Awka, another resident, Sylvia Emeka, described the directive as ‘the joke of the year’.
“For this to work, the government should fund the repainting exercise,” she said.
In Onitsha, Darlington Obi simply remarked:
“This is just daydreaming. On whose expense will this be?It seems like a bazaar for them to rip citizens off.
This initiative forms part of Governor Soludo’s broader vision to transform Anambra into a smart, modern mega city—where visual order, environmental responsibility, and livability go hand in hand.
