•FG intervention needed
By Ekuson Nw’Ogbunka, Abuja
A US-based attorney and public health expert, Dr. Okwudili Ezeike, has sounded the alarm over the devastating impact of erosion in Ekwulobia and Oko communities in Anambra State. As the Coordinator of Odimma Ekwulobia, a welfare organization, and the Ikeakachi 1st of Ekwulobia, Dr. Ezeike highlighted the far-reaching consequences of the erosion menace, which has resulted in reduced agricultural productivity, food shortages, malnutrition, and economic instability.
This was contained in an interview he granted some journalists and sent to media houses on Friday in Anambra.
According to him, the erosion has decimated the livelihoods of many farmers and rural communities, displacing families and rendering them homeless, adding that the he increased risk of floods and landslides has further exacerbated the situation, disrupting livelihoods and displacing more families. He added that the limited supply of land in these communities has led to intense competition for scarce resources, resulting in increased communal land conflicts.
The public heath expert also noted that the erosion menace has led to an increased risk of diseases, with anecdotal data showing a relationship between erosion devastation and incidents of waterborne diseases and respiratory illnesses due to contaminated water and air.
While acknowledging the efforts of the State Government, by having been providing interventions, including the construction of drainage channels in the affected communities, Dr. Ezeike emphasized the need for a comprehensive federal intervention to address the problem.
Urging the Federal Government (FG) to declare an ecological state of emergency in the entire Old Aguata Local Government Area, comprising current three local governments of Orumba South & North and Aguata Local government areas, he however stressed that the enormity of the erosion problem requires the involvement and coordination among different levels of government, as well as international agencies.
Dr. Ezeike expressed concern that he is not aware of any direct constituency project geared towards reducing the erosion menace from the member representing Aguata Federal Constituency. However, he noted that the indigenes have been at the forefront of efforts aimed at tackling the erosion menace, strictly adhering to instructions not to block drainages.
The US- based attorney estimated that the loss experienced thus far runs into billions of Naira, with numbers likely to increase unless the underlying issues associated with the erosion menace are addressed, just as he urgently mad an appeal to President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, highlighting that the country home of the former second citizen of Nigeria, Late Dr. Alex Ekwueme, is currently under threat. He applauded the governor for his efforts and implored the member representing the constituency to elevate this issue to their number one priority.
