Achina, other Aguata communities storm NASS to decry erosion menace

By Ekuson Nw’Ogbunka
Abuja

Achina and other communities in Aguata Federal Constituency of Anambra state on Thursday stormed Nigeria’s House of Representatives in the National Assembly to decry the menance of erosion in their communities

The communities tabled their ordeals to the House of Representatives when their delegates from their villages and Abuja stormed National Assembly for that on Thursday, on invitation by their representative, Hon Dom Okafor, as the House Committee on Environment organised public hearing for that on Thursday.

Speaking to journalists before attending the public hearing were Remigius Ezennwa, Tony Ezenwaka and Uzor Ezeonwuneme, the chairman of Achina community in Abuja the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the president general of Achina at home and a prominent member of Ikenga community in the FCT respectively.

Ezennwa said that the entire communities in Aguata Federal Constituency of Anambra state came on invitation by House Committee to that effect, adding that after the deliberation, they hope that Achina and other communities will be captured in 2025 budget to tackle the havoc being caused by erosion in the area. Similarly, Ezenwaka hailed Okafor for inviting them to the hearing, and also commended him for ensuring that creation of an ad hoc committee by the legislators for their problems. Confirming everything, Ezeonwuneme said that if the havoc of the erosion is not tackled soonest, some communities may be wiped out.

Led into the public hearing by Okafor were: the chairman of Achina Town Union in Abuja, Comrade Remigius Ezennwa; Achina community’s president general, Tony Ezenwaka, who came all the way from Anambra for that purpose; Chairman and patron of Igbo Ukwu community in Abuja, Eze David and Uche Igwilo respectively; from Umuchu community in Abuja, Chris Okafor and; Ikenga community PRO in Abuja, Prince Uzor Ezeonwuneme.

Others were: the representatives of Aguata 1&2 constituencies at the Anambra State Assembly, Honourables Anayo Okpalaeke and Tony Muobiko respectively; former and present chairman of Ekwulobia in Abuja, Amaechi Ezeokoye and Ifeanyi Onyekesi respectively and; president general of Anambra in Abuja, Arinze Anadu from Ezinifite.

Recalled that in 2023, Okafor moved a motion, on the floor of the house, drawing legislators’ attentions to the havock being caused by erosion in his constituency.

At the hearing of Thursday, he spoke at length on the need to tackle the menace, before the raining season comes in full. To that, he showed videos of the destruction the gulling erosion has so far done in the constituency, ranging from building, farm land and other means of livelihood destruction. He therefore continued to appeal that urgent step is taken, before more destructions are experienced.

The minister of environment, Mallam Balarabe Abbas Lawal, when called upon said that the Federal Government (FG) has set up an ad hoc committee to look into flooding in the country, even as he added that his ministry has written each state governor to table problems of fooding, which he described as a global issue, as a result of climate change. Lawal however stated that, with the exception of funding, which he said resided with the Ecological Fund Office, his ministry had among others the manpower, technical power to fight against erosion.

Urging the legislators, press and other stakeholders to hold states accountable on ecological intervention fund, the director overseeing permanent secretary’s office in Ecological Project Fund, Clinton Igwe informed that to address ecological problems across the country, 23.2%, according to him, is sourced from the federation account. Out of the money, he went on, Federal government takes 1%, state, 0.72 and local government, 0.60, making the one of the state and local government, 1.32% while that of FG, 1%.

When called to make a presentation, the legislator from Aguata 2, Muobiko narrated how in 2017, a small girl was drowned to death in Igbo – Ukwu, the home town of Hon Okafor, by flooding in her father’s house, where she should run for safety. He appealed to the FG, to through Ecological Project Fund come to their rescue, before some of the communities go into extinction.

Also making presentation, Okpalaeke of Aguata 1, informed that all the six communities he is representing has over the time been living at the mercy of erosion and flooding, even as he added that due to the ugly development, his constituents couldn’t assess their neighbouring Orumba local governments. “So, I appeal to this committee and other stakeholders to use their good offices to rescue us,” he pleaded.

However, the house committee chairman, Hon Pondi Julius Gbabojor felt pity for them and promised to see that their problems are given urgent attention.