By Joy Odor
Senator Osita Izunaso (APC, Imo West) has bemaoned on the gullies and floodwaters that has become treacherous, leading to loss of human lives, property worth over N4 billion naira and inflicted severe injuries.
He stated this his motion titled “Urgent need to carry out remedial work on Obodoukwu, Urualla, Akokwa, Umumaisiaku, Umuchima and Umueshi Gully Erosion in Ideato North and Ideato South LGAs of Imo State.
According to him, 12 communities in Ideato North and Ideato South were affected by gullies and floodwaters, which is beyond the powers of Imo State government.
Senator Izunaso called on the federal government to urgently undertake a remedial work to mitigate the risks and prevent further loss of lives, property and environmental degradation in the affected areas.
“By taking immediate action and working together, we can protect lives, preserve our community’s wellbeing, and build a safer and more resilient future,” he said.
The Senate after delibretions urged the Ecological Fund Office (EFO) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to jointly and urgently engage relevant experts to conduct the assessment and implement measures.
The Senate informed that such measures are slope stabilization, gabion installations, terracing, re-vegetation, and construction of retaining walls to prevent further losses and minimize the risks to nearby infrastructure, communities, LGAs and states.
It also called on CFO and NEMA to establish community-based initiatives to enhance resilience, such as emergency response teams, evacuation plans, and the formation of local task forces focused on disaster management; outlining the achieved milestones, challenges encountered, and plans for future actions.
