By CHIJIOKE CHARLES
Senator Victor Umeh, representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, has called on the Federal Government to declare the district an ecological disaster zone following the worsening erosion and flooding threatening communities across the area.
The call came after severe flooding and erosion ravaged parts of Awka, the Anambra State capital, leading to the death of a six-year-old schoolboy and the collapse of about three houses into an erosion gully, forcing residents to flee their homes.
Afrilensnews reports that Umeh made the demand during a visit to affected communities, where he inspected areas devastated by erosion and flooding and visited the family of the six-year-old boy who drowned during the recent flood disaster.
Umeh said the situation had become too serious for residents to handle on their own, warning that more buildings could collapse if urgent intervention was not provided.
“I feel sad that Anambra Central Senatorial District is under serious erosion menace and flooding. I was in Obosi and Ogidi in Idemili area just weeks back to see the devastation of flood and erosion. This time, it is Awka, the capital of Anambra State. It is sad that all the local governments in my senatorial district are experiencing flood and erosion devastation,” he said.
The senator, while pointing at buildings already affected by the expanding gully, said several other structures remained under immediate threat.
“All the buildings around here are under threat, these ones right behind me have already collapsed and part of the other one has also collapsed. This gully is a long stretch and I don’t know how we can be saved if not for the intervention of the federal government. I’m calling on the federal government for help,” Umeh said.
He also warned that the continued rainfall could worsen the situation and expose more residents to danger.
“You have seen that the rain is still falling, what this means is that these people are under threat. This requires immediate attention from the government. There is need for remedial action to halt the continuous spread of this erosion at least in this area,” he said.
Umeh called for the Federal Government to urgently intervene through the ecological office, arguing that residents could no longer contain the destruction through individual efforts.
“The best thing for the federal government to do is to declare my senatorial district an ecological disaster zone, so that the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the ecological office will treat this as an emergency. Remedial work by the residents can no longer do anything,” he said.
The senator disclosed that he already had a motion before the Senate concerning erosion and flooding affecting the Idemili North and Idemili South axis, adding that he would seek to update it to reflect the latest devastation witnessed in Awka and other affected communities.
“My motion on the Idemili North and South axis is already pending before the Senate, so when I get back, I will have to update that motion to include these ones so that the federal government will see what is happening in my senatorial district. We need help and we need federal government intervention in this matter,” Umeh said.
One of the victims, retired Deputy Inspector General of Police, AIG Celestine Okoye, also appealed for urgent assistance, saying residents were now living in fear because of the advancing erosion.
Umeh also visited Mr and Mrs Ezenwafor, whose six-year-old child drowned during the flood disaster on Tuesday, to offer his condolences to the bereaved family.
The latest development is expected to increase pressure on the Federal Government and relevant ecological agencies to urgently assess the affected communities and commence remedial measures.
With continued rainfall capable of worsening erosion and flooding, residents in vulnerable parts of Anambra Central could face further displacement, property losses and threats to lives if emergency intervention is delayed.
