BEFORE UZUAKOLI IS WIPED OUT: COMMUNITY CRIES TO GOVERNMENT AS DEADLY GULLY EROSION SWALLOWS HOMES, FARMLANDS
Fear, frustration and uncertainty have gripped residents of Amaewu Umueze Amamba in Uzuakoli Ancient Kingdom, Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, as a rapidly expanding gully erosion continues to destroy homes, cut off roads and render farmlands inaccessible.
Leading the passionate appeal, the President General of Uzuakoli Ancient Kingdom, Chief Barr. Prince Chigoziem Okechukwu, said the environmental disaster has reached a critical stage, warning that if urgent intervention is not provided, more families could lose their homes and means of livelihood.
According to him, the community has repeatedly sought help from government officials and intervention agencies over the years. He said appeals have been made to the member representing Bende Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, the senator representing Abia North, the Abia State Ministry of Environment, the Governor’s Special Adviser on Environment, Professor Ijeoma Iheukwumere, and the New Map erosion intervention programme.
The community acknowledged the prompt response of the Abia State Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Philimon Ogbonna, who visited the site shortly after receiving their complaint. They expressed hope that his visit would lead to immediate government action to save the community.
Community leaders also revealed that they previously committed about ₦58 million of community resources in an effort to contain the erosion, but despite their sacrifice, the disaster continued to spread.
Some residents expressed disappointment over what they described as inadequate attention from some elected representatives, saying they expected stronger intervention considering the scale of destruction.
Traditional chiefs and residents said the erosion has robbed many families of their ancestral homes, prevented farmers from accessing their farmlands and left many young people without safe land on which to build their future.
With every rainfall, they say the gully grows wider and deeper, bringing fresh fear that more buildings could collapse if urgent erosion control measures are not undertaken.
The community has therefore made a heartfelt appeal to the Federal Government, the Abia State Government and all relevant intervention agencies to treat the situation as an emergency and begin immediate erosion control works before the community suffers further devastating losses.
