The Senate has urged the Federal Government to tackle the erosion devastation in Edo Central Senatorial District.
They called for immediate collaboration between the Federal Ministry of Environment, Ecological Fund Office, and the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing.
They also urge cooperation between FERMA and NEMA to carry out emergency works in specific areas like Ekpoma, Irrua, Ewu, Uromi, Udo, and Illushi.
The Committees on Environment, Ecology, Works, Special Duties, FERMA (when constituted), and Legislative Compliance are mandated to engage the relevant Ministries and Agencies to create a durable work plan for arresting the devastation.
Additionally, the Senate calls for the establishment of NEMA stations in Edo central to assist residents during emergencies that could lead to loss of lives and properties.
‘Senate worrisome’
These resolutions are based on Senator Monday Okpebholo’s motion titled “Urgent Need for Erosion Control in Edo Central Senatorial District to Save Lives and Property.”
“Also notes that the Okene-Auchi-Benin expressway, a major road infrastructure in Nigeria began to fail at the Ekpoma axis owing to several gully erosions. The Ewu-Uromi-Agbor Road corridor has also experienced similar fate in Uromi axis. Nigerians in Irrua, Ekpoma, Uromi, Ewu and other communities have fled their homes or got their access roads damaged owing to the erosion problems. In June, two persons died after being swept away from their homes in Ujoelen, Ekpoma. A schoolgirl died two years ago in Efandion, Uromi, on her way to school due to the uncontrollable flooding. It is difficult to construct roads to Udo community because of the wild erosion gullies. This trend is all over the area.”
According to him, the Senate is “Worried that infrastructure like roads and electricity will be grievously affected by the devastation of gully erosion if the situation is not arrested as government institutions like schools and hospitals will also be damaged and more Nigerians may lose their homes as it is already being experienced; and
“Also worried that ongoing highway road projects in Edo central face the risk of being damaged even before they are completed, as a result of which the country may just be losing hundreds of millions of naira because of the natural disaster. The cost of interventions in erosion disaster is too weighty for local and state governments to bear.”