Anambra Residents Seek Urgent Government Intervention on Erosion

The Residents of Amachalla village in Awka, the capital of Anambra State, South-Eastern, Nigeria, seeks Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s intervention to address the ecological challenges which is at the verge of consuming over a hundred households.

A gully of about 30fts and other erosion sites in the area had divided the village into two parts, consuming multimillion Naira worth of properties including economic trees, churches and residential buildings, even as parts of Girls’ Secondary School (Amaenyi Girls) Awka may likely be submerged if nothing is done to stem the menace.

A native of Amachalla village and founder of Awka Na’so Enwe Foundation, Mr Chris Offodile, described the incident as saddening and threatening to lives and properties.

According to him, floods coming from Eke-Awka, Amaenyi, and Aroma axis discharge into the gully.

Ofodile who appealed to governor Chukwuma Soludo and federal government to look into the matter, disclosed that the residents had tried their best to control the erosion but all to no avail, thereby leaving some stranded even as many abandon their properties to scamper for safety elsewhere.

“We faced a similar threat around 2010 and 2011, and cried to the Anambra State government, and a part of it was controlled. Now, the remaining part is getting deeper and wider every day. That is why we are pleading for urgent help. Government knows the best way to fill the gully and properly channel the flood coming to the area,” he added.

Also speaking, a landlord in the area, Mr Emeka Ezekwe, said the gully impact made him construct a catchment pit inside his compound for collation and absorbing water (floods) within, however, his mind is still restless as flooding from surrounding environment heading to the erosion sites had equally devastated the main road.

While speaking, Mr Nwabueze Nwanna and Mr Joseph Adumuonyemma respectively recalled that about five years ago that a property owner in the area reportedly committed suicide for losing his property.

They both expressed confidence that controlling the gully would help recover many buildings, economic trees, and hitherto help to solve accommodation and other issues in the state.

Shakirat Sadiq