Abia communities cry out over devastating erosion menace, seek urgent Govt intervention

…We have tried, they are beyond our capacity to handle …Intervention is on the way -Abia GovernmentBy Steve Oko EROSION-threatened communities in Abia State have sent an urgent save our soul appeals to both the federal and state governments for help over an existential threat posed by dangerous gully erosion ravaging their ancestral homes. The rampaging gully erosion is destroying homes, markets, livelihoods and other critical infrastructure and fast pushing residents towards displacement. Several communities in Abia, particularly those in Isuikwuato, Umunneochi, Bende, Ohafia, Umuahia North, and Umuahia South as well as Aba North and Aba South Council areas, have frighteningly active erosion sites threatening various communities.

Among the worst-hit recently are Amaewu and Amamba Autonomous Communities in Bende Local Government Area as well as Attah Emede Ibeku Autonomous Community in Umuahia North Council, where the locals lamented that the environmental disaster has continued to worsen despite repeated reports to relevant authorities. They told SEV that they had exhausted their personal resources battling the advancing gullies, lamenting that without immediate intervention, more homes, businesses and livelihoods could cave into the erosion gullies as rains intensify. At Attah Emede Ibeku, a suburb of Umuahia, a fresh gully that emerged about two weeks ago has split the community’s only access road into two, cutting off several villages, homes and even the palace of the traditional ruler from the rest of the community.

When SEV visited the site, a community leader, Mr. Daniel Onwuka Ikeadighi, said the warning signs first appeared about four years ago and were promptly reported to the Abia State Project Implementation Unit of NEWMAP, but regretted that no remedial work had followed. “When we noticed the erosion about four years ago, we reported it to NEWMAP.

Officials came, took photographs and told us they were waiting for government intervention. Since then, nothing has happened,” he lamented. Pointing to a building perched dangerously close to the expanding gully, Ikeadighi said the owner died last month and remains in the mortuary because the family can no longer afford his burial.

“Their shop has been cut off by the erosion and business has collapsed. The family has suspended his burial because there is no money.