By CHARLES CHIJIOKE
The death of a six-year-old pupil swept away by floodwater in Awka, Anambra State, has deepened concerns over recurring environmental disasters, prompting Senator Victor Umeh to seek urgent government intervention to protect vulnerable communities from further loss of lives and property.
Master Success Ezenwafor, a pupil of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Primary School, Awka, was reportedly swept away by floodwater in late September. His body was recovered the following day, according to reports, leaving his family devastated by the tragedy.
Afrilensnews reports that Umeh, who represents Anambra Central Senatorial District, raised the alarm during Wednesday’s Senate plenary, calling for emergency measures to address devastating flooding and gully erosion in Ogidi, Obosi, Awka and other affected communities.
Following deliberations on related motions concerning flooding and erosion in Anambra, Ebonyi and Imo states, the Senate adopted resolutions seeking immediate relief for displaced residents, reconstruction of damaged roads and comprehensive assessments of affected communities nationwide.
Moving his motion, titled “Urgent Intervention on the Devastating Flood and Erosion Menace in Ogidi, Obosi and Awka Communities in Anambra Central Senatorial District,” Umeh said the environmental crisis had reached an alarming level, with homes destroyed, families displaced and lives lost.
He disclosed that some erosion gullies in affected areas measured up to 60 metres deep, threatening residential buildings and critical infrastructure.
The senator also recounted the death of a pregnant woman during one of the flooding incidents, describing the scale of destruction as a serious humanitarian concern requiring immediate action.
He said: “The scale of destruction had compelled me to seek the Senate’s intervention because the magnitude of the environmental challenges exceeded what the state government could address alone.”
Umeh called on the Federal Government to intervene through the Office of the Ecological Fund, urging relevant authorities to initiate emergency projects to contain erosion, protect residents and prevent further destruction.
Senate adopts emergency measures
In response to the motions presented by Umeh, Senator Anthony Ani of Ebonyi South and Senator Osita Izunaso of Imo West, the Senate urged relevant federal agencies to provide humanitarian assistance and implement urgent infrastructure and environmental interventions.
The lawmakers directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide affected residents with food, potable water, temporary shelter, medical supplies and other essential relief materials.
They also called on the Federal Ministry of Works and relevant agencies to assess and reconstruct roads damaged by flooding and erosion, restore access to isolated communities and improve drainage infrastructure to reduce the risk of further destruction.
The Federal Ministry of Environment was urged to conduct technical assessments of affected locations and implement sustainable flood-control and erosion-management measures.
The Senate further mandated its committees on Environment, Works, Ecology and Climate Change, alongside other relevant committees, to conduct on-the-spot assessments of affected communities across the country and submit their findings and recommendations within one month.
The resolutions also called for an assessment of damaged farmlands, crops and livestock in affected communities in Ebonyi State, with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security urged to provide emergency grants to farmers who suffered losses.
The Senate’s intervention was extended beyond the South-East to cover other flood- and erosion-affected communities nationwide. Lawmakers subsequently observed a minute’s silence in honour of victims who lost their lives in the disasters.
Umeh seeks urgent repairs on Onitsha–Ogidi–Awka road
Beyond emergency relief, Umeh urged the Federal Ministry of Works to undertake urgent engineering works along the Onitsha–Ogidi–Awka Federal Road, where persistent flooding has severely disrupted vehicular movement.
According to him, floodwater has accumulated along an affected section, creating a large pool popularly known as “Ogidi Lake” and forcing motorists to navigate the edges of the road to continue their journeys.
He attributed the problem partly to inadequate drainage and ineffective stormwater management, which have allowed floodwater to spill into neighbouring buildings and residential areas.
Flooding has also reached the palace of Ogidi’s traditional ruler, submerging vehicles parked within the premises, the senator disclosed. Umeh called on the Anambra State Government to complement federal intervention by constructing effective drainage channels capable of directing stormwater towards safe discharge points.
“The state government should not leave the entire responsibility to the federal government. It should join in finding a solution to the problem by building drainages around the cities so that the water can be properly channelled to discharge points,” he said.
South-East Development Commission urged to prioritise erosion control
The senator also appealed to the South East Development Commission to make environmental protection and erosion control central to its development agenda, given the persistent threat facing communities across the region.
He disclosed that he had raised the issue with the commission during a meeting in Enugu on Monday, stressing the need for environmental challenges to receive sustained attention.
Umeh identified effective stormwater management as a critical component of any lasting solution, explaining that properly designed concrete drainage systems could collect rainwater and channel it to appropriate discharge points.
Such infrastructure, he said, would help reduce uncontrolled water flows that weaken the soil, accelerate gully erosion and endanger homes, roads and other public facilities.
The senator’s appeal comes amid renewed concerns over the humanitarian and economic consequences of flooding and erosion, particularly in communities where damaged roads, destroyed property and displaced households have disrupted everyday life.
For families affected by the disasters, the loss of a young pupil and other victims underscores the urgent need for coordinated action, adequate funding and effective environmental planning.
With the Senate directing relevant committees to inspect affected communities and report within one month, attention will now turn to the implementation of its resolutions and the delivery of relief to displaced residents.
For Anambra communities facing expanding gullies and recurring floods, residents urgently need practical measures that protect lives, restore damaged infrastructure and prevent further tragedies.
