Declare state of emergency on Erosion in Anambra Central - LP candidate urges FG
The Labour Party (LP) Senatorial Candidate for Anambra Central Senatorial District, Ven. Tochukwu Ikezue has called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency on erosion sites across the district.
He warned that the worsening environmental crisis currently posed serious threat to lives, property and economic activities.
Addressing newsmen in Awka on Wednesday, Ikezue described the worsening erosion crisis as an environmental, humanitarian and economic emergency.
He lamented that communities across the seven local government areas of Anambra Central Senatorial District were being ravaged by rapidly expanding gullies.
He cited recent reports of severe erosion threatening Enugwu-Agidi and Ogidi communities, as well as the deep gully erosion ravaging Ugamuma Village in Obosi.
According to him, the affected communities represent only a fraction of the widespread environmental challenges confronting the district.
"Communities in Njikoka, Idemili North, Idemili South, Anaocha, Dunukofia, Awka North and Awka South are witnessing erosion that is destroying roads, homes, schools, farmlands and other public infrastructure, while exposing thousands of residents to danger," he said.
Expressing concern that many families now live in fear that heavy rainfall could destroy their homes or even claim lives, LP candidate warned that failure to act promptly could lead to the displacement of entire communities from their ancestral lands.
"We call on President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Government to immediately declare a state of emergency on erosion sites in Anambra Central and follow it with the release of intervention funds for urgent remediation.
"We also urge Federal Government to deploy relevant agencies, including the Ecological Project Office, the Federal Ministry of Environment and other technical institutions, to undertake comprehensive erosion control and restoration projects across the affected communities," Ikezue added.
Acknowledging efforts of Anambra State Government in addressing some erosion sites, the Senatorial hopeful maintained that the scale of the disaster has exceeded the state's capacity, insisting that the situation required stronger federal intervention and collaboration.
He further called on members of the National Assembly representing Anambra State, elected public office holders, development partners and corporate organisations to join forces in pursuing lasting solutions to the erosion crisis.
Ikezue warned that environmental disasters should not be politicised, insisting that protection of lives and property remained a collective responsibility.
"As someone seeking the mandate to represent Anambra Central in the Senate, I believe leadership is about speaking up for the people, especially in moments of distress. Our communities deserve more than sympathy; they deserve decisive action," he stated.
He warned that every delay in addressing the erosion challenge would allow the gullies to expand further, destroy more infrastructure, increase the risk to human lives and raise the eventual cost of intervention, urging authorities to act before the situation worsened.