Gully Erosion: Senate calls for a wholistic approach to tackling menace
Brought before the red chamber, in today's plenary session were two motions for the urgent need to address the menace of gully erosion in some parts of the country. The two motions were the third since the inception of the 10th Senate.
Sen. Umeh Victor Chukwunonyelu (Anambra Central), on the “Urgent Need to Control the Erosion Ravaging Onitsha-Oba Section of the Onitsha-Owerri Federal Highway in Anambra State”, said buildings and factories within the vicinity are on the verge of collapsing into the gully.
He noted that if the menace of gully erosion in the affected sections of the road is not urgently controlled, the roads will be damaged, thereby leading to disconnection of the highway.
Sen. Chukwunonyelu further said the Onitsha-Owerri Federal Highway is a gateway to business activities and other relationships between the Western States and South East and South South States.
Similarly, Sen. Monday Okpebholo (Edo Central) on the “Urgent Need for Erosion Control in Edo Central Senatorial District to Save Lives and Properties”, expressed concern that the perennial gully erosion have affected the Okene-Auchi-Benin expressway, not leaving out the Uwu-Uromi-Agbor Road.
He expressed deep concerned that erosion has claimed the lives of Nigerians including two persons that were swept away from their homes in Ekpoma in June, 2023, and a school girl who died two years ago on her way to school due to uncontrollable flooding.
Both Senators, (Sen. Umeh Victor Chukwnonyelu and Sen. Monday Okpebholo) noted that the magnitude of the menace is beyond the control of the local and state governments.
In his submission, Sen. Orji Uzor kalu (Abia North), called on the Senate president and the distinguished Senators to give special attention to the devastating effects of erosion in Nigeria, noting that the roads that leads to his Local Government Area had been taken over by erosion.
“I like you, Mr. President and my distinguished colleagues to give this motion a special attention and urge the relevants authorities to urgently address the menace”.
Also supporting the motion, Sen. Abaribe Enyinnaya Harcourt
(Abia South), said there is no doubt that the whole of the South East is under the siege of the menace of erosion.
“I join my colleagues to say that something needs to be done urgently to curb it”.
The Senate President, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, noted that a wholistic approach will be taken to address the devastating effects of erosion in Nigeria hence it is pose serious threat to most communities across the nation.
The Senate President, however said the most affected areas with high threat to lives will first be picked.
