From Marcel Duru Owerri
As erosion menace continue to cause sleepless night to Imolites the Director-General of National Emergency Management Agency(NEMA) Mr Ifeanyi Nnaji has said that they have identified 360 erosion sites in Imo State. Speaking on radio program recently in Owerri, Imo State he disclosed that they have carried Joint assessment with Imo SEMA in Ehime Mbano, Osuru Umukabia and Amaimo Umukabia communities affected by windstorm and gully erosion,Ideato North and Ngor-Okpala major gully sites, and Umukabia in Ehime Mbano Local Government Area. He reiterated that they have also assessed Umuchima gully in Ideato South where 10 houses swept away adding that- Food items like beans, seasoning cubes, tomato paste, vegetable oil, salt, detergents and non-food: mosquito nets, foam mattresses, blankets have been given to them, stressing that Early warning ordered over relocation effected Eziorsu, Afiaofu, Orsuobodo, Osemotto in Ohaji/Egbema and Oguta flood-prone along Orashi River.
Speaking further Nnaji said that areas in Imo under severe erosion depression that need urgent intervention wereIdeato North and Ideato South – 12 communities most affected are Obodoukwu, Urualla, Akokwa, Umumaisiaku, Umuchima Umueshi, Amanator, Isiekenesi, Umuobom, Arondizuogu, Isiokpo, Umuaghobe, Akpulu.Other LGAs according to him includesEhime Mbano, Nzerem Ikpem, Umuoma, Obinetiti, Dioka Road, Umunumo Ibeafor Owerri North, Trinity Street Akwakuma, Amakohia, Spibat, Works Layout, AladimmaMbaitoli, Umueze-Obazu-MbieriOrlu/Isu/Oru, Uhuala Obibi Ochasi (2km long, 75m deep, 100m wide), Ibeoma Ekwe, Umuorji Mgbidi, Ebenato-EkweEzinihitte: Ezialla ObiziObowo: 10 communities at riskNgor Okpala, IkeduruOwerri West: Umuguma In reaction to this, Governor Hope Uzodimma has sent SOS to Federal GovernmentThe erosion menace is far beyond capacity of state government to handle said that “We urge FG not to allow our people and communities to be sunk by gully. Avoid activities that make it worse.”
