Anambra state erosion-prone areas suffered swipe from first few rains

With the rains just warm¬ing up for its 2015 season, some erosion-prone areas of Anambra State have
suffered a swipe from the first few rains of the season. NKIRU NWAGBO in Awka reports that families in some local government areas have been driven to neighbouring towns and villages.
Erosion menace in some communities in Anambra State has compelled residents of the area to vacate their homes for fear of being submerged by the disaster.
This is the fate of some residents of Nkwo-Igboukwu market area in Aguata Local Government Area of Anambra State where erosion has chased families out of their homes, forcing families to be squatting with relatives in neighbouring towns and villages.
Speaking with Daily Times on the pitiable situation, the tra¬ditional ruler of the Igboukwu kingdom, HRH Igwe Dr. Martin Eze, described the situation as terrible, lamenting that many families have fled their homes.
Igwe Eze observed that the absence of catchment pits in the area have worsened the situation. “The only major road connecting the entire Anambra-South Senatorial District has equally been overtaken by erosion.
“Governor Willie Obiano had intervened on the said road, but the intervention was too little too late. It is to no avail as the heavy downpours recently have caused a lot of problems in the area.”
The monarch also pointed out that Governor Obiano had flagged off the construction of Nnewi-Igboukwu-Ekwulobia Road shortly after assuming office, but the road project, according to him, has not been completed and now “the rain is currently causing so much havoc in the area.”
He implored the state and federal government to proffer practical solutions to erosion in the area.
Similarly, the Traditional Ruler of Oko community in Orumba-North Local Government Area, Igwe Prof. Laz Ekwueme, said the erosion menace in his own community was getting more severe by the day.
Igwe Ekwueme, who also spoke in an interview recalled that a company called Ronasco had to stop its remedial works in sensitive areas of the erosion-prone ground because it had not been paid by the government.
“The federal government has also done nothing to salvage the situation. For so many years in the past, the FG claimed to be negotiating with one Rhyno Con-struction firm and several other meetings were held with other companies but all have come to nothing.
“Now, the rains are just beginning and we don’t know whether we are going to survive this rainy season or not.”
Igwe Laz Ekwueme stated that Obiano had visited the erosion site in his domain to assess the situation, but lamented that rather than find lasting solution to the erosion problem, the Governor said he would ‘make the erosion site a tourist attraction’. The monarch lamented that his own home is on the verge of being sub¬merged by erosion.