•As Imo Assembly Adopts Motion For A Permanent Solution
By Onyekachi Eze
Worried over the degree of damages caused by erosion menace to communities in Nkwerre Local Government Area, the Lawmaker representing Nkwerre State Constituency in the Imo State House of Assembly, Hon. Barr. Chisom Ojukwu has wept over the ordeal.
Speaking passionately at the plenary session of the House on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, Hon Ojukwu decried the devastating effects of erosion.
He hinted that currently, most people have been sacked from their houses, while others would soon be victims if no urgent intervention is made.
The motion which was seconded by the Chief Whip, Hon. Chigozie Nwaneri, received an overwhelming support of the Lawmakers who had pity on the People of Nkwerre.
Hon Ojukwu opined that he was propelled to present the motion due to the level of havoc flooding has caused.
The preamble reads, “The House is invited to note that the impact of flooding in various Communities In Nkwerre State Constituency have left so many dwellers in those communities in perpetual agony;
“Further noting that rain water coming from some communities In Orlu and Njaba local Government Areas through Eziachi and Amucha passing through Eziama Obaire, Amaokpara and causing great havoc at Okwu, Umukalu, Durumba, Umuokpu, Amangwu, Umukabia, Ukwuinyi, Umuchukwu, Obinuhu, Obinocha Etc All In Nkwerre State Constituency;
“Worried that a lot of buildings and businesses have been affected by this natural disaster and a lot more will still be affected if no effort is made to curb this environmental menace;
“Further worried that the lyi Ukwu Nkwerre where the rain water from the mentioned axis empties can no longer collect volumes of the rain water because of the pollutants, hazardous substances and debris from water bodies;
“Interesting to conceptualize that the dredging of lyi Ukwu Into a Mini Lake and Beach Resort will make it to become a tourist destination where tourists and fun lovers will be visiting for site seeing and other recreational activities which will help to shore up the Internal Generated Revenue of the State”.
The legal luminary further averred that for the past decades he has lived in Nkwerre, he did not see such level of erosion, unlike what has become, due to the overflowing Iyi Ukwu river that no longer contain rain drops.
He said, he no longer go to his house due to the natural disaster that has encroached his domain.
“Houses and farmlands have been lost due to this. As a representative, the people besiege me for solutions and I can’t abandon them”, Hon Ojukwu submitted.
Lending his voice, Hon. Kennedy Ibeh asserted that the motion from his Nkwerre counterpart requires a serious attention.
The Obowo representative noted that the topography of Imo State is not as stable as it should, hence the possibility of erosion in most places.
“As a natural disaster, where sufficient attention is given, the damages that are associated with erosion may be reduced.
This is time for Ministry of environment to move into the hinterlands of the State to be able to make recommendations to the governor”, Ibeh added.
Honorables Emeka Ozurumba, Innocent Ikpamezie, James Esile, and others made their contributions in support of the motion.
The House therefore resolved as follows, “To urge the Imo State Government led by His Excellency Governor Hope Uzodimma to direct the Ministry of Works, Ministry of Environment and other relevant Agencies to urgently find lasting solution to the flood menace ravaging Nkwerre LGA;
“To urge the Governor to shine his developmental search light on Nkwerre and to direct the Ministry of Works, Environment, Culture and Tourism to commence the dredging of lyi Ukwu into a mini lake and the development of a tourist center for Imo State in Nkwerre LGA”.
