The Governor of Anambra state Prof. Chukwuma Soludo has appealed to the Federal Government to quickly intervene in the failed portion of the Onitsha-Owerri road which has been completely cut off by gully erosion.
ANN reports that the ever busy Onitsha-Owerri road is a federal road that connects commuters from the Niger River Bridge to other parts of Anambra and South East states, as well as some parts of the South South states.
Soludo, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Mr. Ernest Ezeajughi, during an inspection of the site, called on President Ahmed Tinubu’s to interven to the life-threatening erosion in the location.
He revealed that Anambra State has over 1,000 active gully erosion sites and this incidence is just an appetizer considering other erosion sites in the state.
This owes heavily to a cave-in due to gully erosion that has washed off one section of the ever busy major federal highway in Ọba, Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State.
“We are appealing to the Federal Government to quickly intervene and save this road from total collapse. The Onitsha-Owerri road by Oba erosion wash-off is a major devastation. The state government is acting on an emergency basis and cannot wait for the federal government to intervene eventhough it is their responsibility”. Ezeajughi said.
The Commissioner for Works, Engr. Ifeanyi Okomma, explained that the erosion is a major one standing at 8 kilometers plus 100 along Onitsha-Owerri Road.
He noted that Anambra State Government is doing an intervention action with Soludo’s approval and arrested the situation by stopping the progression of the erosion which Tamad Construction Limited has begun already.
We are in talk with federal ministry works and Federal Road Maintenance Agency, FERMA and they are already on it. But it will be a long process.
“We don’t have an option, we moved a contractor that will continue with the second objective, to stop further mudslides. Having achieved the first objective already, the second objective is to stop more erosion slide while the State waits for the Federal Government,” the Commissioner said.
On his part, the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Felix Odimegwu, described erosion as an existential threat in the state and called for increased ecological funding.
He said the state government has been rendering palliative measures to stabilize the level of damages that has occurred, while pleading to the Federal Government to intervene on erosion crises in the state.
Odimegwu pointed out that Anambra is the erosion capital of the Country and asked the federal government to also increase ecological funding in Anambra State.
The President-General of Oba Community, Sir Obadi Ifedili, appreciated Governor Soludo for sending his team to inspect the gully erosion that has been a prevailing problem and also pleaded with the Federal Government for a quick reaction because the road is a federal road that leads to other states.
The Transition Committee Chairman for Idemili South Council Area, Mrs. Ify Obi appreciated Governor Soludo for the prompt intervention, but pleaded with the federal government to assist.
Stakeholders from Oba amongst others joined in the inspection.
