Erosion: Edo community cries out for help

Residents of Aibotse/Igbei in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo, on Thursday urged the state government to find a lasting solution to the gully erosion threatening the community.

Some of the residents made the appeal in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in the community.
NAN checks in the area indicated that the end of the Aibotse/Igbei Road was almost washed off by erosion, thereby inhibiting vehicular movement.

It was also observed that some perimeter fences around some of the buildings in the area had been pulled down by erosion.
Mr Sulaimon Isaah said the problem had been a source of concern to the people of the community.

He said that if urgent steps were not taken to address the problem, the community could be cut off from the other areas of the local government.

“We no longer sleep with our two eyes closed whenever it rains, due to the threat of erosion ravaging the community.

“The heavy rains have continued to wreak havoc on portions of the road, which has already developed into a gully.’’
Another resident, Mr Sunday Asein, said that the development had posed a serious danger to the residents, especially the pupils of Aibotse, Igbei Primary School.

“If urgent steps are not taken to control the erosion, the road will become history,’’ he said.

Mrs Halimat Momoh, whose house is severely affected by erosion, pleaded for immediate intervention.

“I am appealing to the state government to assist us in finding a lasting and permanent solution to this life-threatening menace.’’