News Agency of Nigeria
Lawmaker decries erosion, security challenges in Imo

Lawmaker decries erosion, security challenges in Imo

178 total views today

By Peter Okolie

The Lawmaker representing Ideato North and South Federal Constituency of Imo, Mr Ikenga Ugochinyere, has expressed concern over the threats posed by erosion and insecurity to his constituency.

Speaking on the two challenges at a news briefing in Owerri on Thursday, Ugochinyere urged the State and Federal Governments to address the issues without further delay.

He regretted that the erosion had already ravaged buildings and farmlands, while many lives had been cut short by bandits.

Although the lawmaker commended the State and Federal Government’s progress in controlling the Umuchima erosion menace, he said that bigger erosion challenges had emerged in other areas.

“Ideato is sinking and is at the verge of extinction, and requires the deliberate attention of the State and Federal Governments to salvage the people.

“We have succeeded with the Umuchima erosion control but we have bigger challenges in places like Urualla.

“In Urualla, where the World Bank pulled out, the erosion has gone out of control with new communities sinking day by day,” he said.

He also said that Urualla alone had three erosion sites, pointing out that a 1.2km drainage was currently being built to control the erosion into the Orashi River.

He, however, said that his effort towards achieving the drainage system was limited, in view of the new erosion challenges in Obodoukwu, Isiokpo and Ejezie communities.

“The bye-pass being used for Umueshi-Amanator-Isiekenesi-Dikenafai-Okwelle is already sinking too and needs to be fixed.

“We need the State and Federal Government as a matter of urgency to intervene in controlling erosion in the two Local Government Areas, which have contributed to the development of the state and the country,” he said.

He also said that other erosion-ravaged communities included Akokwa, Osina and the Umuobom Bridge, which was about to collapse.

Speaking on security, the lawmaker lamented the worsening breaches in the area, calling for the establishment of local vigilance groups to tackle the menace.

He expressed deep regrets over the recent attack on Arondiizuogu communities, including Umualaoma, Ejezizuogu and Ndiakunwanta, where more than 26 people were reportedly killed.

He said: “Whether it was caused by separatist groups, kidnappers or organ harvesters, the situation has gotten scary as people no longer go to farms, while many have fled to the cities.

“We need the support of not just the Federal but State Government because we have revenues that should take care of security of lives and property of the people in their local domain.

“We want the activation of the local vigilance system funded by Local Governments and supported by the various communities.”

According to him, most communities lack local security guards, while those with established local guards barely boast of guns, motorcycles and vehicles, and are paid paltry sums of N50,000 for risking their lives.

“That is why you see different armed groups terrorising these communities.

“By now, I had expected the State Government to have visited the area with relief materials to support the victims,” he said.

Ugochinyere said he had visited and disbursed N5 million to assist survivors and families of deceased persons.

He disclosed that he had launched the “Ideato Emergency Fund” to support families of victims and survivors of various armed attacks in the constituency.

“The fund has so far realised N32 million with a N50 million target through donations from friends in the next few days,” he said.

He, however, called on the Ideato North and Ideato South Local Government Chairmen to rise up to the occasion by visiting and supporting the victims and survivors of insecurity in their areas.

“We cannot continue to accept a situation where local government chairmen cannot cut grasses in their council secretariats, equip health centers, provide boreholes, streetlights, security and rehabilitate schools, yet receive nothing less than N350 million monthly allocation,” he said.

The lawmaker also voiced concern about the crisis plaguing the Peoples Democratic Party, frowning at the way he was “unfairly” treated by the party.

Ugochinyere, who described himself as a “shinning light” of the party in the state, following his “victory from exile”, wondered why he was being treated unfairly, in spite of his loyalty and support to the party.

He threatened to quit the party with his supporters, if his alleged maltreatment continued.

“We are still in the party today. We have not moved and have not taken a decision to move.

“If you treat us fine, we will be with you, and if you don’t, we will face another direction with our structure,” he warned.

He enumerated some of his achievements at the National Assembly to include Bills for the Establishment of a Federal Skill Center at Umuobom as well as a Federal Hospital.

He also said he had constructed boreholes and installed over 4,000 solar streetlights, rehabilitated schools, and facilitated federal employments for many youths.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Sam Oditah

Anambra community cries out over erosion menace

Anambra community cries out over erosion menace

435 total views today

By Chimezie Anaso

The people of Ekwulummiri Town in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra have raised the alarm over the magnitude of devastation caused by gully erosion in the community.

 

They said that this has jeopardised the lives and livelihood of the people of the agrarian community and led to displacement of families.

 

Mr Chinedu Anyaso, stakeholder in the community, told journalists in Awka that the gully erosion had swept away many economic trees, farmlands and livelihood of families.

 

He said the most affected villages were Umudim, Urueze and Isigwu in order of devastation.

 

Anyaso called on Gov. Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra and the Federal Government, through the Nigeria Climate Adaptation Erosion and Watershed Project (NEWMAP), to come to the aid of the community.

 

He said the gully erosion was caused by flash flood from Igbo Ukwu, Oraeri and other upland communities as well as increased human activities which exacerbated the flows.

 

Anyaso said the road linking the community to Amichi through Ugwuochi had been cut off by the gully erosion, thereby reducing the access of the people to social and economic activities.

 

He called for the urgent intervention of the government to the over 30 years life threatening gully erosion in the community.

 

He said the massive gully was less than 100 metres from the Oba-Nnewi-Uga-Okigwe expressway which was a strategic route for travellers.

 

“We are losing our community to gully erosion, about 15 houses have been lost to this gully, families have been displaced, countless economic trees and large areas of farm lands have been washed off and the federal road that passed here is about being cut off.

 

“We are calling on Gov. Chukwuma Soludo to declare a state of emergency on Ekwulummiri gully erosion, we are also calling on the Federal Government and international community to intervene.

 

“As a people, we have carried out control and remedial measures like planting of trees, construction of drainage and creation of catchment pits to reduce the impact but we are facing flood from about four communities from the upland.

 

Also speaking, Chief Clement Ezeifedikwa, said they had cried out over the gully menace but had not had any respite.

 

Ezeifedikwa said government officials had visited the various sites a number of times and gave assurances but nothing had been done to mitigate the disaster or assist the people.

 

“It is getting worse every day, we do not have home any more, people are moving out,” he said

 

Mr Cassidy Ikejiaku, a youth in the community, said the people had taken various measures to combat the gully erosion but they had been overwhelmed by the magnitude.

 

Ikejiaku said they had done some concrete work, planted trees and constructed artificial dams to reduce flood runoff.

 

“As a community, we have made an effort, our brothers both home and abroad have spent huge sums of money on control of the erosion, even the bamboo tree and trees we planted have been swallowed,” he said .

 

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Anambra is considered as the capital of gully erosion in Africa with over 1,000 active erosion sites.

 

The ecological problem has been attributed partly to climate change which comes from high rainfall leading to soil erosion as a result of increased water erosion and runoff.

 

Gully erosion in Anambra is driven by a combination of natural and human induced factors, including topography, soil properties, climate, and land use practices.

 

Prof. Philip Phil-Eze, the Managing Director of Anambra State Erosion, Watershed and Climate Change Agency (ANSEWCCA), said at a workshop recently that about 160 out of the 179 communities in the state were at the risk of gully erosion.

 

Phil-Eze blamed soil erosion in Anambra on natural factors such as high intensity of rainfall, flood/runoff, lithology (loose soil type), topography and scarce vegetation cover.

 

“Man-made causes include the culture of negligence, felling of trees, indiscriminate waste disposal, lack of harvesting rainwater, sand mining, modern roofing styles and interlock tiles.

 

“Others are poor termination of drainage channels, wrong termination/diversion of channels during construction and unhealthy farming practice,” he said.

 

However, the Anambra government has successfully tackled gully erosion in some parts of the state.

 

This was achieved through the Nigeria Erosion Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP), a World Bank sponsored project.

 

NEWMAP not only recovered some ravaged gully sites but resettled the victims and empowered them with healthy environmental practice skills.

 

Through NEWMAP, the Anambra government was able to control and stabilise NEROS Plaza, Amachala, Ekwueme Square, Federal High Court Complex all in Awka; some with access roads.

 

Also rescued fully were Urunebo gully in Enugu Ukwu, Umuoji gully, Ojoto, Ire Obosi while Nkpor flyover, Ugamuma Obosi and Abagana are still under threat.

 

In addition to civil control works, NEWMAP also had a resettlement action plan for affected persons and equipped victims with climate change management tips under its project advisory services.

 

Though NEWMAP wound up in 2022 after 10 years intervention activities in Anambra, the people of Ekwulummiri are urging Soludo and the Federal Government to consider them a priority under the European Investment Bank’s (EIB) initiative.

 

They said it was an intervention in the magnitude of the Nigeria Climate Adaptation Erosion and Watershed Project (NEWMAP-EIB) that would redeem them from the gloomy doom.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ismail Abdulaziz

NEWMAP-EIB commends Ekiti’s N1.1bn fund pledge

NEWMAP-EIB commends Ekiti’s N1.1bn fund pledge

634 total views today

By Akpan Glory

The Nigeria Climate Adaptation Erosion and Watershed Project, supported by the European Investment Bank (NEWMAP-EIB), has commended the Ekiti State Government for pledging N1.1 billion as its counterpart funding for the project’s implementation.

The National Project Coordinator of NEWMAP-EIB, Engr. Anda Ayuba, made the commendation in a statement on Friday following the team’s visit to the state.

The Chief of Staff to the Governor, Mr Oyeniyi Adebayo, represented Gov. Biodun Oyebanji during the engagement.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the team was in the state to assess Ekiti’s readiness for project implementation and fund disbursement.

These are key requirements set by the European Investment Bank.

He expressed appreciation for the state’s financial commitment, but appealed for the full release of the pledged N1.1 billion to enable immediate commencement of project activities.

“All proposed sites in the state have met the selection criteria,” he confirmed.

Ayuba, however, raised concerns over the worsening condition of erosion-prone areas, particularly in Efon Alaaye Local Government Area and the Olorunda community.

Describing the situation as life-threatening, he recommended the urgent application of the Gully Rapid Action and Slope Stabilisation (GRASS) approach to prevent further degradation, pending the implementation of long-term solutions.

In his response, Adebayo thanked the NEWMAP-EIB team for their visit and reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to environmental protection.

He confirmed that the N1.1 billion allocation had been approved and would be released at the appropriate time.

He also praised him for his proactive leadership and dedication to ensuring effective implementation of the project across participating states.

Adebayo noted that the NEWMAP-EIB project aligns with two pillars of Governor Oyebanji’s “Shared Prosperity” agenda of Infrastructure, Industrialisation and Good Governance.

He added that the governor remains committed to delivering democratic dividends and fostering sustainable development for the people of Ekiti state.

Also speaking, the Acting Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment, Mr Tunde Balogun, commended Gov. Oyebanji for demonstrating strong political will by allocating over a billion naira to the project.

Earlier, the State Project Coordinator for NEWMAP-EIB, Dr Akinyugha Akinyemi, gave an overview of the initiative.

He noted that Ekiti had already benefited greatly from the first phase of NEWMAP, which covered nine local government areas, impacted 2,000 rural residents, and achieved 100 per cent completion of civil works.

Key sites included health centres, the Ogbomu culvert, and the Ajalogun Bridge in Ikere-Ekiti, a major route connecting Ekiti to Kogi State.

According to Akinyemi, the current phase of the NEWMAP-EIB project will focus on areas including Efon and Efon Alaaye local government aea, among others. (NAN)

Edited by Tosin Kolade

X
Welcome to NAN
Need help? Choose an option below and let me be your assistant.
Email SubscriptionSite SearchSend Us Email