From Ifeoma Ejiofor
The Anambra State Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Barr. Chijioke Ojukwu, has urged environmental health officers to focus more on food safety, abattoir sanitation and other core public health responsibilities.
Barr Ojukwu made this call while playing host to the Anambra State chapter of the Environmental Health Officers Association of Nigeria (EHOAN).
He said the statutory mandate of environmental health officers extends beyond building-related activities to food production, sanitation and disease prevention.
The delegation, led by the association’s chairman, Mr. Ikechukwu Obasoanya, expressed concern over the limited involvement of environmental health officers in construction activities and highlighted the acute shortage of personnel across local government areas, noting that Idemili North currently has only three officers.
Responding, the commissioner said excessive attention to construction issues was diverting officers from more pressing public health duties.
He cited poor sanitary conditions in slaughterhouses, restaurants, fast-food outlets and other food establishments, warning that inadequate inspections could expose residents to preventable health risks.
Barr. Ojukwu also clarified that environmental health officers have no legal authority to seal construction sites, noting that they are required to issue sanitary clearance before building approvals are granted.
He pointed out that their role is limited to assessing compliance with environmental health standards, with enforcement powers resting with the appropriate authorities.
Barr. Ojukwu called on the association to intensify inspections of markets, eateries, food processing centres and abattoirs, describing such measures as critical to disease prevention and public health protection.
The commissioner also pledged stronger collaboration with the association and promised to engage relevant authorities on recruiting and deploying more officers across the state.
Earlier, Sanitarian Ifunanya Mbanugo said environmental health officers play a vital role in ensuring building sites meet prescribed sanitary standards before approvals are issued and appealed for greater institutional support to enable officers effectively discharge their statutory responsibilities across Anambra State.
