Past govt visited us, did nothing – PG
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Many houses have been deserted in Amamba Uzuakoli Autonomous Community in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State following the menace of gully erosion that is ravaging the agrarian community.
At least five buildings have so far been swallowed and many others under imminent threat since the menace started about four years ago, according to a community source.
The recent heavy rain in the community led to the collapse of a two-storey building on Sunday.
This is happening less than one year after another two-storey building was completely swallowed in the community by gully erosion which now poses existential threat to the agrarian community.
Speaking with newsmen at the Uzoamaewu erosion site President General of the Community, Elder Chilasa Kanu, said the menace had defied every effort by the community to checkmate it.
He lamented that many locals had deserted the community to avoid being swept away by erosion.
Elder Kanu who said that the palliative efforts by the community to put the erosion under control had not yielded any positive results, called on Government to intervene.
According to him the erosion control efforts have become a drain pipe through which resources of the community including their sons and daughters in the diaspora are “burnt.”
“We are overwhelmed! Efforts to control this menace have taken so much from us and we want Government to come to our rescue,” he appealed.
The PG regretted that every effort by the community to get the attention of the previous administration fell on deaf ears.
“This erosion started about four years ago, and the community has done everything humanly possible to see if we can put a stop to the menace but without success.
“We have spent over N40 million with the collaborative efforts of our sons and daughters in the disapora but up till now there is no hope yet.
“All the pleas we made to the previous administration under Governor Okezie Ikpeazu yielded no result.
“No intervention whatsoever has come to us either from the Federal or State Government. Last year the Governor sent his Deputy who came here and told us that erosion control is the job of the Federal Government, and he left.
“Our House of Representatives member, Rt. Hon Ben Kalu who is now the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, also visited but did nothing.
“Senator Orji Uzor Kalu also came, saw it, and did nothing. Since then no intervention has come from anybody and the menace is getting worse.”
The PG said that locals of the agrarian community could no longer access their farms as the gully has also cut off their farm road.
Ikengaonline reports that Uzuakoli is a major producer of cassava and corn in Abia State.
“We no longer go to farm because our farm road has been cut off by this erosion. Besides, the erosion has rendered many families homeless.
“There is a two storey building over there: It collapsed yesterday. The occupants have since packed out. Many locals have deserted the community and are now squatting with their relations in Umuahia and neighbouring towns.
“There are also many houses there that their owners have deserted. If nothing urgent is done in the coming days many more houses will collapse as the erosion is coming with speed. Maybe by the end of this rainy season the entire community may look for a place to go.”
The President General appealed to Gov. Alex Otti to quickly come to their aid and save them from being sacked from their ancestral community.
Speaking also, another member of the community, Mr Chikezie Ogbonnaya, appealed for urgent and permanent intervention by Government to arrest the menace.
He said that if no urgent actions were considered in the weeks ahead the entire community might be completely swept away by erosion.
Meanwhile, accessing houses in one part of the community has been made impossible following a deep gully, about 100 feet deep created on the only access road.
Abia has a fair share of erosion menace in the South-East as the state, according to statistics, has over 3000 active erosion sites.
The menace is more pronounced in Bende Isuikwuato and Umunneochi Local Government Areas.
Uturu-Akara road has been cut off at different locations by gully erosion.
Similarly, Uzuakoli-Ohafia road has caved in at certain points due to erosion menace.
