Erosion Menace: Over 30 Families Rendered Homeless In Anambra (Photo And Videos)
Despite the massive measures been taken by the federal and state Government to curtail erosion in Anambra state, many communities are still experiencing severe erosion menace.
Umumonye village in Uga town in Aguata L.G.A of Anambra State is one of the communities struggling with a serious gully erosion which has swallowed many houses. It is also the home of the immediate past Senator, Sen. Andy Uba who represented Anambra South senatorial zone.
The gully erosion has deteriorated very badly between 1st and 3rd September 2019, leaving many people homeless in Umueze and Umuoru villages in Uga town.
Anaedoonline.com gathered that more than 30 houses have been lost to the menace. More than two major roads and Obizi Uga stream road have been cut also off and people living nearby have fled the zone as a result of the disastrous erosion situation
Speaking to our correspondent, the President General of the town, Chief Anthony Obinna Ekesiobi (Ph.D.) said, “It’s been 20 yrs since the erosion started”. He said, the Former Anambra state Gov, Gov Peter Obi awarded the contract for the flood channel but it was not completed and the flood took advantage of the abandoned parts to cause the present disaster.
The PG further portrayed that Umueze community Uga has made serious effort to control the flood by the diversion of flood and bringing state and Federal govt attention to it.
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“However no attention was given to it from both state and Federal Government of Nigeria till date even though State and Federal govt Ecological ministry have owned and gazetted it”, he said.
One major market in the town, two Church building, and a big government primary and Secondary school are being threatened with many houses at risk of being consumed by the disaster.
According to the account of the villagers, the erosion affected two parts within the particular spot, Umueze community, Uga and Umuoru community are most hit by the disaster as it stretched from Umueze to Umuoru”.
Another villager who pleaded anonymity said, “Every flood from about seven neigbouring towns namely Ezinifite, Unubi, Nkpologwu, Amesi, Akpo, Ekwulobia, Ekwulummili, and other communities from Uga namely Oka, Awarasi jointly have the gully erosion site as their water harvest point”.
Chief Ekesiobi, one of the villager said that Government receives ecological fund which we know. That the fund should be utilized to save our soul from the gully erosion. Peter Obi, the former governor tried to control it but when the Government changed; the project was abandoned. Government is a continuous process”. he appealed.
Anaedoonline.com exclusively gathered the Names of families and compounds that are affected who had lost their lands and houses to the erosion. They include Demain Ezeonyilimba, Gabriel Abiakam, Matthew Ibe, Jonah Ibe, Nature Ezeihuaku, Goddy Ezekwuaku, David Obie jess, Christian obsession, Goddy Obiejesi, Charles Okpalaejesi, Daniel Akabogu, Patrick Anyakei, Philip Dim, Michael Dim, Matthew Dim, Stephen Umezika,
Okpalannaka Dim, Joseph Dim, Isaac Ejimnaka, Abuchi Ejimnaka, Tony Ezeleagha, Isaiah Ikegwuonu, Boniface Ezembamara, Joseph Dim, Gilbert Ezeihejafor, Josephat Ugeri, Daniel Ifionu, and Paulinus Uga.
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These affected families and all the indigenes of Umuoru and Umueze villages in Uga town cries out for Government intervention on the erosion site to control it before it chases them away.