Members of Committee on Ecological Funds of the National Assembly have expressed shock at the menace of gully erosion in Agbor, Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State.
The lawmakers who were on oversight function at Agbor, expressed worry over increasing threat to lives, properties and environment by gully erosion in the city.
While inspecting damages by rampaging floods at UBE Road, Off Uromi Junction; the Chairman, Ecological Funds Committee, Rt Hon Ibrahim Ayokunle Isiaka pledged immediate action.
The visit to the site was facilitated by the member representing Ika Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Victor Nwokolo; supported by Hon Anthony Elekeokwuri – member representing Ika North East in the Delta State House of Assembly as well as Hon Festus Okoh of Ika South.
Hon Isiaka said they were at the site to assess the impact of erosion in the area, adding that what they saw requires urgent intervention.
Expressing shock at the depth of gullies, the lawmaker assured that the federal government will give priority attention to the problem.
“The impact of the ecological disaster in this area has gone beyond elimination stage as far as risk assessment is concerned. The canal already created by the gully erosion is now 12 meters wide and 10 meters deep. Residents of houses on the danger spots along the cliff of the deep gully should relocate in their own interest to avoid loss of lives”, Hon Ibrahim stated.
Continuing, he explained that “from what is on ground, the gully erosion has become a threat to humanity and it was not caused by human element as it is a natural disaster. Unless this ecological disaster on this road is urgently addressed, no meaningful work could be done on the Agbor axis of the Uromi-Agbor Expressway”.
The committe chairman stated that the visit was an oversight function of the committee, and commiserated with residents of the UBE Road and its environs over the danger posed by the gully erosion, even as he commended them for not building on water ways and not dumping refuse in the canal.
He disclosed that the committee had already identified 2,731 erosion ravaged communities in the country, stressing that the federal government was committed to ensuring that erosion challenges were addressed with available resources.
He called on multi-national agencies and wealthy individuals to assist in mitigating the challenges.
The member representing Ika Federal Constituency in the National Assembly, Hon. Victor Nwokolo, promised to ensure that the site was remediated immediately by the relevant organs of government.
He urged residents to ensure that they stay safe and expressed optimism that the assessment visit by the Ecological Funds Committee will bring succour to the people.
The member representing Ika North East in the Delta State House of Assembly, Hon Anthony Elekeokwuri, said erosion menace in Agbor metropolis has been very worrisome and stressed the need for more concerted efforts towards addressing the problem.
Residents who conducted the Committee round the site, expressed appreciation to the lawmakers for the visit and appealed for immediate action to forestall further loss of buildings and other valuables.