Anambra Lawmaker Calls for Emergency Action to Control Erosion

The Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, Victor Umeh, says emergency measures are needed to contain the worsening erosion crisis threatening lives, homes, schools and critical infrastructure across communities in Idemili North and Idemili South Local Government Areas of Anambra State.

The Lawmaker made the call after inspecting a major gully erosion site at Ugama, Obosi, where recent heavy rainfall caused extensive land degradation, damaged access roads and placed residential buildings, schools and farmlands at risk.

Umeh urged the Federal Government to declare the two local government areas an erosion disaster zone, describing the environmental challenge as a national emergency that requires urgent intervention.

“The erosion menace in Idemili North and South has reached a critical stage. It is one of the most erosion-prone areas in Nigeria, affecting communities such as Obosi, Nkpor, Ogidi, Umuoji and others. The Federal Government must treat it as a national environmental emergency,” he emphasised.

The senator warned that continued rainfall could worsen the destruction if immediate action is not taken, placing more homes, schools, roads and public infrastructure at risk.

According to him, previous erosion-control efforts failed to provide a lasting solution because of the fragile nature of the soil and inadequate drainage systems in the affected communities.

He called for a comprehensive engineering approach that includes integrated drainage infrastructure and effective channelisation of floodwater into the Idemili River to address the recurring challenge.

“The challenge goes beyond temporary measures. What is required is a comprehensive engineering solution backed by the Federal Government,” Umeh stressed.

He said he would immediately write to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Environment to seek emergency intervention rather than wait for the National Assembly to resume from its annual recess.

The lawmaker also disclosed plans to sponsor a motion on the floor of the Senate to secure federal support for the affected communities.

Umeh’s visit followed an appeal by engineer and philanthropist Eric Anyamene, the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) candidate for Idemili North and South Federal Constituency, whose residence is among the properties threatened by the advancing gully.

Anyamene said he had committed about ₦40 million to emergency palliative works after the erosion rapidly expanded beyond the community’s capacity to contain it.

He attributed the worsening situation to stormwater flowing from neighbouring communities, including Ogidi, Umuoji and parts of Obosi, expressing concern that another heavy rainfall could trigger further devastation.

Anyamene commended Governor Charles Soludo for directing the Commissioner for Works and relevant local government officials to inspect the affected area.

The engineer supervising the emergency intervention, Mezie Andrew, said the temporary work would take between two and three weeks to complete but acknowledged that only a comprehensive government-backed project could provide a lasting solution.

Traditional rulers, community leaders, school authorities and residents also appealed for urgent intervention.

Representing the traditional ruler of Obosi, Igwe Chidubem Iweka III, Dr Okey Mgbemena called for swift action to prevent further destruction.

President of the Obosi Development Union, Chikezie Obi, described the rainfall that triggered the latest gully expansion as unprecedented, noting that several communities in Obosi are now affected by erosion.

Officials of Union Secondary School, Obosi, said the expanding gully has already disrupted access to the school, while residents warned that more homes and farmlands could be lost without urgent government intervention.

The appeal comes amid growing concerns over the impact of gully erosion across southeastern Nigeria, where fragile soil conditions, inadequate drainage infrastructure and increasingly intense rainfall continue to threaten communities, livelihoods and public infrastructure.