Geoffrey Anyanwu, Awka
Former vice president, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, may soon become homeless as his family house in Oko, Orumba North Local Government of Anambra State may soon be washed away by erosion.
Already, a United Kingdom erosion expert, Trevor Jewitt, has predicted that Ekwueme’s edifice could be swept away by erosion next rainy season if proactive measures were not taken, and immediately, too.
Jewitt disclosed this when a delegation of the House of Representatives Committee on Ecological Matters, led by Obinna Chidoka, visited erosion sites in the area.
He also warned that the situation in Ekwueme’s home was a disaster waiting to happen.
The erosion expert, who is a representative of Rhino Construction Nigeria Limited, who has studied erosion trend in Nanka and Oko erosion sites for six years said: “I must impress that, if this work is not started quickly, then, we have a big problem here.
“All the work we have already done would be wasted. It is not whether it will happen; it is certain, it will happen. We know what to do to stop the gully from advancing further into Oko community. It is a matter of funding.”
Already, some houses in the area, including that of Dr. Ekwueme’s grandfather have been swallowed.
Speaking at the erosion site, Chidoka described the situation as a calamity and assured that he would take the matter up with the Secretary to Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, for urgent intervention.
“This visit will not end up as another sight-seeing visit, as in the past.”
Addressing the lawmakers, earlier, a leader of the community, Mr. Handel Okoli said the enormity of the erosion in the area was not known to government, adding that many have been displaced in the area.
“We are convinced that until the approving authority for the disbursement of the Ecological Fund visits this site, the enormity of the situation will never be appreciated. Oko and Nanka people have seen their farm lands and entire communities washed away, every rainy season. The tragedy of the situation is that the Federal Government is yet to take the matter as seriously as it deserves. The problem we have now is how to get government to award the contract for the second phase of the erosion remedial work.
just to make sure that the palliative work done by the present contractor on the Nanka side is not washed away in the next rainy season.
“The present contractors have completed their works at Nanka and once they leave the site, the entire work will collapse since financial provision has not been made to check the Oko end of the site. So we are in a dire situation and already the number of internally displaced persons is increasing in leaps and bounds.
Oko and Nanka people have seen their farm lands and entire communities washed away every rainy season. The tragedy of the situation is that the Federal Government is yet to take the matter as seriously as it deserves.
http://sunnewsonline.com/ekwueme-may-be-homeless-next-rainy-season-uk-erosion-expert/
Former vice president, Dr. Alex Ekwueme, may soon become homeless as his family house in Oko, Orumba North Local Government of Anambra State may soon be washed away by erosion.
Already, a United Kingdom erosion expert, Trevor Jewitt, has predicted that Ekwueme’s edifice could be swept away by erosion next rainy season if proactive measures were not taken, and immediately, too.
Jewitt disclosed this when a delegation of the House of Representatives Committee on Ecological Matters, led by Obinna Chidoka, visited erosion sites in the area.
He also warned that the situation in Ekwueme’s home was a disaster waiting to happen.
The erosion expert, who is a representative of Rhino Construction Nigeria Limited, who has studied erosion trend in Nanka and Oko erosion sites for six years said: “I must impress that, if this work is not started quickly, then, we have a big problem here.
“All the work we have already done would be wasted. It is not whether it will happen; it is certain, it will happen. We know what to do to stop the gully from advancing further into Oko community. It is a matter of funding.”
Already, some houses in the area, including that of Dr. Ekwueme’s grandfather have been swallowed.
Speaking at the erosion site, Chidoka described the situation as a calamity and assured that he would take the matter up with the Secretary to Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, for urgent intervention.
“This visit will not end up as another sight-seeing visit, as in the past.”
Addressing the lawmakers, earlier, a leader of the community, Mr. Handel Okoli said the enormity of the erosion in the area was not known to government, adding that many have been displaced in the area.
“We are convinced that until the approving authority for the disbursement of the Ecological Fund visits this site, the enormity of the situation will never be appreciated. Oko and Nanka people have seen their farm lands and entire communities washed away, every rainy season. The tragedy of the situation is that the Federal Government is yet to take the matter as seriously as it deserves. The problem we have now is how to get government to award the contract for the second phase of the erosion remedial work.
just to make sure that the palliative work done by the present contractor on the Nanka side is not washed away in the next rainy season.
“The present contractors have completed their works at Nanka and once they leave the site, the entire work will collapse since financial provision has not been made to check the Oko end of the site. So we are in a dire situation and already the number of internally displaced persons is increasing in leaps and bounds.
Oko and Nanka people have seen their farm lands and entire communities washed away every rainy season. The tragedy of the situation is that the Federal Government is yet to take the matter as seriously as it deserves.
http://sunnewsonline.com/ekwueme-may-be-homeless-next-rainy-season-uk-erosion-expert/
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