Imo: Lawmakers lament over encroachment of gully erosion in communities

Lawmakers in Imo state House of Assembly have lamented over the encroachment of gully erosion at virtually all strategic roads in rural areas of the state.

The Assembly, on Thursday, during plenary, noted that a handful of lawmakers had presented similar cases of erosion ravages in their various constituencies including Ideato-South, Ezinihitte-Mbaise, Ihitte-Uboma, Ehime-Mbano, Isiala-Mbano among other LGAs.

They expressed apprehension that if nothing urgent is done to remedy the situation, some rural communities may be entirely cut off from the state capital, Owerri.

But presenting his motion, the member representing Isiala-Mbano state constituency, Sam Osuji, said that a major link road (Umuopara and Ugiri Oka) in the LGA, was on the verge of cutting off due to the erosion menace.

The lawmaker noted that the inhabitants of the communities within the area, are mostly farmers and traders who are eking a living from their farm and agro produce. Hence, agriculture and other economic activities there have suffered a devastating and terrible set back, as a result of the persistent and frightening erosion menace.

"This link road in Umuopara and Nkwo-Mbaa of Ugiri Oka ward in Ugiri Clan, leads to Amaraku, Umuelemai and Umueze I, where are the three different political wards in both Isiala-Mbano and Ehime-Mbano LGAs.

"Aware that through this same road, commercial vehicles transport passengers going to different locations. The road has become a very big death trap and people living around the axis are passing through hell and endangered as a result of the bad road.

"Be it resolved by this honorable House to urge the Government of Imo state to provide the necessary logistics to the state Ministry of Works and Environment to wade into the said road with a view to carrying out a remedial work, for instance, while seeking for a permanent solution to save the situation."

After exhaustibly deliberating on the motion, the Speaker, Chike Olemgbe, put it to vote and it was eventually adopted by the House. JK