PROPERTY ARTICLES

With the advent of the rainy season, EMEKA EZEKIEL reports that many communities in Anambra State will soon be rendered homeless by gully erosion

If possession of large acres of active erosion sites were a parameter for measuring economic potential, then Anambra State currently occupies an enviable position of being the richest state in Nigeria. Densely populated - with a land mass of 4,416 sq.km and situated on a generally low elevation on the eastern side of the River Niger - the state currently has over 500 active gully erosion sites.

In addition to the popular Nanka erosion site, which over the years had become a sort of tourists‘ attraction, more gully erosion sites are springing up in the state at a dizzying pace thereby pushing the state towards the brink of a major ecological disaster.

Among the emerging and dangerous erosion sites in the state are the ones located at Umuokpanilo, Ozubulu; Nnewichi Bishop Uzodike Road; Umuikechem; Ojoto; Obodoukwu, Sakamori and Umunya. When our correspondent visited some of the sites last Thursday, economic activities in the affected communities were at the lowest ebb as gully erosion had taken over some houses and farmlands.

According to a 38-year-old farmer from Uzubulu, Mr. Sunday Nnoli, the gully, which developed about three years ago in his village, had been exacerbated partly by the activities of the villagers who excavate sand for commercial purposes on the one hand and also the indiscriminate activities of road contractors on the other hand.

He said, "Since three years ago that this gully developed, our farm land and crops have been destroyed. The gully was caused by some villagers who excavate sand for sale. To worsen the situation, the flood, which emanates from neighbouring communities such as Michael Junction, Ekwusigo and Umuarisi Village, have been channelled towards our village by construction companies while embarking on road construction. This has completely destroyed several acres of our cassava farm. We want the government to help us so that flood will not wreck more havoc on us."

In Umuikechem, Nnobi, in Idemili South Local Government Area, several houses including a storey building, had been deserted as erosion had washed away substantial portions of the foundation.

Similarly, the Nnamdi Azikiwe Comprehensive Health Centre, Umunya, and other adjourning residential buildings, are currently at the brink of collapse as a result of the massive gully, which has enveloped the complex. The depth of the gully is over 20 feet, and spans through several acres of land.

In Onitsha, the commercial nerve centre of the state, some residents and traders at the popular Sacamori area had already fled their homes and abandoned shops as flood had taken over a substantial part of the area.

A 36-year-old resident of Sacamori, Mr Joseph Okonkwo, whose shop had been destroyed by flood, told our correspondent that more and more people were abandoning the area due to the havoc unleashed on them by flood.

Okonkwo, who is married with six children, said, "This problem is too much for us to bear. More people are abandoning their homes and businesses. We are begging the government to come and help us before we dies."

Apparently worried by the increase in the number of erosion sites dotting the nooks and crannies of the state, the Minister of Environment, Mr. John Odey, said development was a big challenge adding that the Federal Government would collaborate with the state government in order to find a lasting solution to the menace.

According to Odey, "The problem of land degradation in the South East, especially Anambra, is quite alarming and disturbing. The case of Anambra is a big challenge, both for the Federal Government and the state government. It is such a big challenge, that some communities in the state have relocated. Currently, we are faced with the challenge of treating degradation problem on the one hand and rehabilitation on the other hand. And all these come with multifaceted issues that have to be dealt with. Had it been that they were attended to quite early, we would have been able to deal with the erosion and land degradation problem. But having it to this extent will now expose us to a lot of other challenges such as rehabilitating the people and then loss of buildings and other economic trees around these areas."

But how soon can the federal and state governments intervene in order to reduce the suffering of the people? Odey said, "We have done the baseline studies with the Governor of Anambra State, since last year. The baseline study is elaborate in terms of funds that will be committed to the project. What we are doing now is to agree on what intervention projects that we have to embark upon immediately. We must start from somewhere. Already, we have available funds to start with. My visit to the erosion sites was to prioritise which of the few projects we had to start immediately. The intervention projects will include all the states in the South East where the menace of erosion is having a telling effect on the people and the environment."

However, the Governor of Anambra state, Mr. Peter Obi, told our correspondent that the state government could not cope with the cost of carrying out environmental remediation and rehabilitation in the affected communities.

He stressed that the state had not received grant from the Federal Government‘s Ecological Fund for three years.

According to Obi, "I visit these sites regularly to see to what extent we can mitigate the impact of the ecological disaster even as we are trying to get the required resources to tackle the problem holistically. We are waiting for the intervention of the Federal Government because providing solutions to the myriads of ecological problems in Anambra is beyond the resources of the state. For us to carry out remediation and rehabilitation of those affected by the menace of erosion involves billions of naira which the state cannot afford at the moment.

"We are not even asking for money; what we are asking for is the intervention of the Federal Government. The Federal Government can bring the contractors and award the contract. We are not interested in awarding the contract. The problem is beyond us. We are begging the Federal Government to help us. It has been a while since we received money from the Ecological Fund. We have not received anything from the Fund since 2007."