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Abia seeks support on 3,000 erosion sites

By Gordi Udeajah, Umuahia 
28 May 2018   |   3:49 am
Sequel to the discovery of over 3000 gully and other erosion sites in the state, Abia State government has solicited the support of the federal government to tackle the menace. Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, who spoke at the commissioning of the N400m flood and erosion control project at Amachara in Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency, said most of…

Abia State governor, Okezie Ikpeazu

Sequel to the discovery of over 3000 gully and other erosion sites in the state, Abia State government has solicited the support of the federal government to tackle the menace.

Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, who spoke at the commissioning of the N400m flood and erosion control project at Amachara in Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituency, said most of the 3,000 erosion sites in the state were massive and beyond the capacity of the state government to handle.

Dr Ikpeazu, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr Eme Okoro urged the federal government to assist the state in this regard and specifically urged the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC to do the needful stressing that Abia state is one of the states within the NDDC region.

The erosion control project at Amachara one of the two awarded by the federal government through the Ecological Fund Office in the Presidency at the total cost of N700m
Both projects at Amachara in Umuahia South LGA and Okwe in Ikwuano LGA were allegedly facilitated by Chief Sam Onuigbo, the Chairman of the House Committee on Climate Change and the constituency representative at the House.

While Commissioning the completed Amachara project on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari, Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri said that the president personally approved the two Ikwuano/Umuahia Constituency projects following the application and sustained pressure by the Representative.

He said that the two Constituency projects were among the 26 ecological intervention projects approved in the first quarter of 2017 to check flood and erosion and the risks to lives and properties associated with erosion and persistent flooding.

Permanent Secretary in charge of Cabinet Affairs in the Office of the Secretary of the Federation, Mrs. Georgina Ehuriah said that the timely completion of the project was made possible by the diligence of the project Contractor and Consultant.

On his part, Onuigbo commended the Federal Government for approving his request to address the two erosion sites.

He pleaded with the federal government to similarly tackle the over 40 other massive erosion sites threatening his constituency which require urgent attention.

Elated by the commissioned project, the Amachara Community leader, Mr. Sunday Andrew lauded Onuigbo for his effective representation, which he said saved the community from being cut-off from its neighbours.

He however said that the only Community Road, whose rehabilitation contract was allegedly awarded by the NDDC, has been abandoned, which could threaten the commissioned erosion project.

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