Soludo Raises Alarm, Begs Tinubu to Declare state of emergency on Anambra Erosion Crisis

By Praise Chinecherem

Anambra State government has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene in
life-threatening erosion at the Onitsha-Owerri road axis of the state.

Speaking during an inspection visit to the location, Chief of Staff to Governor Soludo, Mr. Ernest Ezeajughi called on federal government to declare a state of emergency on erosion menace in the State.

He said government had embarked on intervention to arrest the situation before other measures as people of the state were most hit in the scourge.

He said, “We have over a thousand active erosion sites in Anambra State. This is just one of them. We are acting on emergency.

“Because the Onitsha-Owerri road by Oba erosion wash-off is a major devastation, we are not waiting for the federal government, eventhough it is their responsibility”.

Commissioner for Works, Engr. Okoma revealed that on sunday evening, there was a report of slight washout on the road, saying that a team from the Ministry visited the location on Wednesday and saw the major erosion and mudslide on the road, called kilometer 8 + 100 Onitsha-Owerri road.

He said that they observed that the progression was high, which made the engage a contractor to stop the progression.

“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”, he said.

Okoma explained that it is an emergency situation but no formal contract has been awarded for the work, stressing that it will be done pending the approval of the federal government.

Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Felix Odimegwu described Anambra as the erosion capital of the Country and asked the federal government to also increase ecological funding in the State.

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 were also part of the inspection visit.