The Anambra State Government has announced plans to amend the state’s traffic laws to impose stricter sanctions on motorists who engage in dangerous driving practices.
Commissioner for Information and Value Reformation, Dr. Law Mefor, disclosed the decision while briefing journalists on the resolutions reached during the sixth meeting of the Anambra State Executive Council (ANSEC).
According to Mefor, the proposed amendment, which will be presented to the Anambra State House of Assembly, is aimed at improving road safety and reducing reckless driving across the state.
He explained that offences such as driving against traffic and crossing dual carriageways outside designated U-turn points would attract severe penalties, including heavy fines and mandatory Mental Status Examinations (MSE) for offenders.
The commissioner said the measures were designed to discourage dangerous driving habits and safeguard the lives of road users.
Beyond traffic reforms, Mefor said the Executive Council reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and open governance, while encouraging constructive criticism from members of the public.
He, however, condemned the spread of false and fabricated information on social media, describing such acts as criminal defamation. He advised public officials whose reputations are damaged by malicious publications to seek legal redress and urged content creators to distinguish between legitimate criticism and deliberate falsehood.
The council also reiterated its determination to sustain its campaign against fraudulent native doctors, fake pastors and other forms of deceptive practices operating in the state.
On environmental protection, Mefor said the government would intensify grassroots mobilisation following the recent declaration of a state of emergency on the environment.
He noted that communities would be encouraged to take proactive measures to combat erosion and prevent practices that contribute to environmental degradation, including dumping refuse in drainage channels, directing runoff water from residential buildings onto roads and constructing structures along natural waterways.
According to him, primary and secondary schools will also be involved in promoting environmental awareness and responsible behaviour among students.
The commissioner further announced the council’s approval for the standardisation and digitisation of motor parks across Anambra to improve transport services and enhance commuter experience.
He said the initiative would establish minimum infrastructure standards for motor parks and improve the efficiency of both intra-state and interstate transportation. Parks that fail to comply with the new standards within the stipulated period, he added, would be phased out.
Mefor also disclosed that the council reviewed the implementation of the Nigeria for Women Project (NFWP), a Federal Government initiative supported by the World Bank to improve the economic wellbeing of rural and peri-urban women.
He said strategies had been put in place to ensure that eligible women in Anambra fully benefit from the programme, which focuses on expanding access to economic opportunities, skills development and productive resources.
