Catastrophe in Imo community

The people of Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency are now more than ever, faced with an existential threat posed by multiple gullies ravaging every nook and cranny of the area especially, the total collapse of Orlu – Akokwa – Uga road, a federal road that links Imo to Anambra and other states in the country.

The all-important federal road was cut off at the popular Urasi River in Umuchima in 2021 by a menacing erosion leaving in its trail, destruction, wailing, and crying. Sadly, no palliative intervention has been carried out by the relevant government agencies to tame the monster as the people were abandoned to their fate.

Not even the call by the lawmakers representing the Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency and Imo West (Orlu Zone) Senatorial District at the National Assembly, Hon. Ugochinyere Ikeagwuonu and Senator Ostia Izunaso respectively, could make the relevant authorities to intervene in the situation.

Recall that the Senate, through a motion by Izunaso, had mandated FERMA, NEMA, EFO, and other relevant agencies to carry out remedial works on several erosion sites in the Ideato Federal Constituency.

Concerned that the gullies and floodwaters are now beyond the Imo state government, Izunaso, in a motion of “Urgent Need to Carry-Out Remedial Work on Obodoukwu, Urualla, Akokwa, Umumaisiaku, Umuchima and Umueshi Gully Erosion Sites in Ideato North and Ideato South LGAs of Imo State”, stressed the need for FG’s presence and urgency to undertake immediate remedial work to mitigate the risks and prevent further loss of lives, properties, and environmental degradation in the affected areas.

However, when this reporter visited the Owerri offices of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and the Federal Ministry of Works, officers refused to comment or provide information on what their offices were doing to contain the situation. Onyinyechi Kelechi of FERMA and Engineer John of the Ministry of Works promised to furnish our reporter with the necessary details but have since refused to answer their calls. FERMA is the Federal Government agency concerned with road construction, improvement, and connectivity between the States of Nigeria.

In Imo, the sites of gully erosions are commonplace. However, Ideato is believed to be the most erosion-prone area in the state with over 200 erosion sites across the federal constituency. The total collapse of erosion sites has led to the loss of human lives, and property worth over N4 billion as well as inflicted severe injuries on many people.

According to Saturday Vanguard findings, communities mostly affected include Umuchima, Obiohia, Isiekeneisii, Umueshi, Ogboko, Amanator, Urualla, Umumaisiaku, Obodoukwu, Isiokpo, Akpulu, Umuobom, Akokwa and Ntueke. The findings also showed that no fewer than 30 residential homes including that of retired Justice Mbonu and the popular Nkwo Umuchima market, have been swept and over 15 people said to have lost their lives in the ecological disaster.

As the rainy season beckons, the people are frustrated, hapless, and unhappy with the government’s negligence and nonchalance to their plights.

Those who spoke to our reporter said the erosion along the federal road was long identified but nothing serious was done to check the advancing gully until the highway bowed to the superior force of flood, leaving motorists and other road users stranded and at the mercy of hoodlums.

SOS

While appealing to relevant authorities to save the people from extinction, a former President-General of Umuchima community, Mr. Chibueze Emelu, said: “Erosion has swept off houses and farmlands forcing people to flee their ancestral homes. Our community is on the verge of being swept away. The economic and social life is threatened. Our people cannot go to market again because our only market has been consumed by the devastation. We are calling on the Federal Government to come to our aid. They must act now especially during this dry season as communities in this area no longer have access to anywhere.”

Looming Catastrophe

 

A former member of the Ideato South LGA Caretaker Committee, Hon. Ifeanyi Duru, had expressed worries that the situation has assumed catastrophic proportions. According to him, not many “have the faintest idea of the magnitude of this environmental disaster looming.

“Recently, I took out time and went around all the erosion sites in my community, Obiohia, with a photographer to get a pictorial view of the situation. What I found out that very day really shook me to the marrow.

“Though the pictures and report from that exercise were submitted to the current government in Imo State by myself, nothing has been done to ameliorate the situation.”

Legislative Efforts

When contacted, the member representing Ideato South in the Imo State House of Assembly, Hon. Johnson Iheonukara, described the situation as worrisome stressing that he has raised the issue of erosion on the floor of the House several times.

“As a matter of fact, I physically visited most of the erosion sites in my constituency including the one at Umuchima. I visited that very spot and made it known that it’s high time that palliative measures are taken towards ameliorating the situation. I moved that as a motion on the floor of the House. As of that time, it hasn’t gotten to the level where it is right now. Indeed, it is worrisome as we speak, very, very worrisome.

“When I visited that place, I drew the attention of NEMA. Why there have not been any palliative or wholesome measures being taken on that very road is what I don’t know. However, I can assure you that I will continue to draw the attention of the state government to that problem. This time around, I’m going to do it in full force. I will ensure that that matter is brought back again so that while we are expecting an intervention from the federal government, at least, the state can do something about it.”

It’s beyond us

The Imo State government has said that the ecological problem in Ideato is way beyond it. Governor Hope Uzodimma through his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Oguwike Nwachukwu, said he was not only worried about the situation in the area but anywhere erosion is posing a threat to lives and property in Imo.

“For Ideato, the governor is very much in touch with the Federal Government’s Ecological Funds Office, EFO, through the Office of the Secretary to the Federal Government. Recently, a team from the EFO visited the erosion sites to evaluate the situation on the intervention of the governor”, Nwachukwu said.

Hopeful.

Meanwhile, the member representing Ideato North/Ideato South Federal Constituency, Ikeagwuonu said though the situation has gone out of control, assured the people that help was underway following the signing of the 2024 Appropriation Bill into law by President Bola Tínubu.

According to him, the Orlu-Akokwa-Uga road gully site is captured in the 2024 budget, and expressed hopes that when the implementation of budgetary allocations commences, the road would receive the required attention.

“I know there is something that we put in but the amount is what we have been working night and day to see if it could be increased to be able to do substantial work on that road. So, we have to wait to see what was finally earmarked because what was originally earmarked cannot even do much. The thing has gone out of control, so, you can’t really do much there unless you have more funding. So we are on it. Yes, we are hopeful that something will be done on that road this time around.”