Senator Umeh calls for erosion mapping of South East region

The Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, Senator Victor Umeh, has called on President Tinubu to urgently intervene in the gully erosion menace in Oba, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra, calling for erosion mapping of the South East region.

Umeh, who made the call when he visited the gully erosion site at the Onitsha – Owerri federal road over the weekend, described the South-East, especially Anambra State, as the erosion capital of Nigeria.

The road was cut off last week, which has threatened many buildings including the Rojeny Tourist Village and many companies.

Senator Umeh, shocked on seeing the extent of devastation, promised to personally present a wholistic report on the landslide to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, for onward transmission to the Federal Government.

Stating the importance of the Onitsha-Owerri Road, where the landslide occurred, Senator Umeh asked the Federal Government, to commence an emergency work on the site.

He affirmed that if the landslide was not curbed, it would cut off the remaining part of the road, thereby restricting movement to about six states of Imo, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Rivers State and Cross Rivers State.

He said: “What we see here is an emergency that the federal government should intervene in.

“This part of the road has been cut off, and you can see that the only part of the road that is now being used is also threatened.

“This is beyond the control of the state government. So, there is a need for the federal government to step in. The other lane may not survive another two weeks from what we see here.

“I came into Anambra last night to see things for myself. I will take the video of this site to the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to see how the National Assembly can intervene, at least on this section.”

Senator Umeh maintained that the Oba erosion was not the only one in Anambra, adding that the menace had taken over communities like Obosi, Nanka, Agulu, Orumba, Oko and many others.

One of the cabinet chiefs in Oba, Chief, Boniface Onyeka, told Voice of Nigeria that his company has been washed off by the erosion, as he wept uncontrollably.

Other members of the community were equally on hand to inspect the devastation.

Read Also: Anambra State Curbs Gully Erosion On Nigerian Government Road

Meanwhile, Voice of Nigeria on visiting the site, noticed works going on courtesy of the Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo.

However, Umeh said the work was beyond the state government, adding that if it required taking loans to solve the problem, it would be better for the Southeast and indeed, the nation at large.