By Sunny A. David, Awka
The Anambra State Commissioner for Environment, Mr Clems Aguiyi, has dismissed reports alleging that about 20 armed men invaded the Goodness and Mercy Mass Transit Limited Park at Upper Iweka, Onitsha, assaulted the park’s chairman and workers, and forcibly abducted a female toilet operator.
Aguiyi described the allegation as false, questioning the source and identity of the alleged armed men.
“Such a thing never happened. Twenty armed men from where?” he queried.
The commissioner made the clarification while reacting to a publication concerning the alleged incident, which he described as part of a campaign against the ministry.
He, however, alleged that certain groups, working in collaboration with influential individuals, had forcefully taken over public toilet facilities across Anambra State and were making money from their operations without proper authorisation.
According to Aguiyi, the alleged illegal control of public toilets started before he assumed office on May 18, 2026. He further claimed that the groups had been using miscreants and hoodlums to intimidate Environmental Health Officers and prevent them from carrying out their official duties.
He said the ministry had made several attempts to engage the operators, but the efforts had not yielded the desired results.
Explaining the legal basis for the ministry’s intervention, Aguiyi referred to Sections 352, 352(2) and 352(3) of the Anambra State Environmental Management, Protection and Administration Law, 2024.
He maintained that the provisions give the Ministry of Environment exclusive authority to regulate and manage public toilet facilities across the state.
The commissioner also explained that Section 352(3) requires individuals, organisations or corporate bodies intending to establish, operate or manage public toilets to obtain prior approval from the ministry and comply with its stipulated regulations.
Aguiyi questioned the legal authority under which the alleged groups were operating the facilities, insisting that the ministry would not allow public assets to be controlled unlawfully.
He said his administration was determined to enforce the law and recover government-owned public toilets to ensure proper management, maintenance and accessibility for residents.
Describing the report of the alleged invasion as a sponsored media attack, the commissioner said he was not surprised by what he considered attempts to discredit the ministry’s activities.
“When you fight corruption, corruption fights back,” he stated.
On the photograph of the female toilet operator, identified as Ifeyinwa, who reportedly appeared in a torn camouflage singlet, Aguiyi said he intended to release two photographs to allow members of the public to examine the situation and draw their own conclusions.
The commissioner’s response comes amid controversy surrounding the management and control of public toilet facilities in Anambra State.
