Everybody, including the owner of the six-flat storey-building in Abagana, Anambra state knew.The beautiful structure may not last till the next rainy season and in the next few weeks,could topple into the cavernous gully only a few metres away.

Last week in Njaba, Imo state ,Mr. Festus Okoro ‘s heart was filled with sadness as he surveyed what was left of his three hectares of farmland on which he had planted young cashew seedlings.

The retired ports worker had invested part of his retirement benefits on the farm only to discover that two days of heavy rainfall had left a large gully through which his seedlings had been washed into the Njaba river.


All across the South East, from Enugu to Imo, Anambra, Ebonyi and Abia states , gully erosion has cut up or washed away roads, destroyed farmlands, pulled down houses and sent residents fleeing their homes.

Investigation by The Guardian showed that Akwakuma in Owerri North Council, Njaba and parts of Okigwe road in Owerri Municipal are worst hit in Imo State. There is the Ohafia-Arochukwu axis and the Umunneoche Council in Abia State where residents have fled their homes.

In Anambra, several communities are being ravaged by erosion while the Nguzu-Edda and Abia Iwerre communities in Afikpo South Local Council, Ebonyi have some of the worst erosion sites in the region while Enugu’s sites are mostly located along the Udi axis.

A visit to some of the erosion sites showed that economic and human activities are almost non-existent, the result of the yawning and dangerous gullies created by large-volume, fast-flowing run-off.It is often heart-breaking to see beautiful houses perched on the edges of deep gullies, long abandoned by their owners who have relocated and from wherever, await the inevitable swallowing of their homes.

The headquarters of Afikpo South council at Nguzu-Edda, has been relocated due to the threat by erosion even as a few buildings still sit perilously on the edges of gullies.A resident, John Nwuifuru told The Guardian that the “local government headquarters was relocated sometime by the administration of the former chairman of the council, Nkama Nkama Ude because the former location was no longer safe for habitation. You have seen how erosion ravaged the area to the point that buildings were swallowed and even the internal roads are no longer accessible.”

Nwuifuru also disclosed that the entire Abia-Iwerre community is being threatened by erosion that has also sacked many residents.At Oko community, Orumba North Council in Anambra state, erosion has shown it s no respecter of anybody.

The family homes of former Vice President, Dr. Alex Ekwueme and his younger brother the traditional ruler of the community, Prof. Laz Ekwueme are under serious threat of being washed away.So are facilities which include the Science Laboratory Technology (SLT) and auditorium at the Federal Polytechnic Oko, under construction may be swallowed up by an encroaching gully unless something is done to save them. It was gathered the school has sunk over N8bllion to erect some of the structures now being threatened.

The Guardian learnt that over 900 erosion sites exist in over 177 communities of the state including Oko, Ebenebe, Nanka, and Agulu among others, leading to severe environmental degradation and adversely affected the socioeconomic lives of the people.

According to Mr Ikenna Uba, cases of land degradation that developed into full-blown gully erosion sites were caused by human activities through the indiscriminate dumping of waste products, felling of trees and an increased runoff due to rapid land use development.

He added that the poor drainage system of the people was responsible.Uba told The Guardian that several intervention efforts had been made, stressing however that “they are hardly likely to contain galloping erosion from the numerous congestion we have in terms of infrastructure here.”

He said the Federal Government through the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) is intervening in the area, adding however that “the more they intervene, the more new erosion sites are developed.“They are intervening in Amachalla gully in Awka South, Uruokpala-Umudunu erosion in Abagana Njikoka, St. Thomas Aquinas/Nero Plaza in Awka, and the New Heritage erosion site at Omogba, Onitsha”, he said.

It was gathered that the affected sites which would have been completed before the end of the first quarter of this year are being delayed by paucity of funds.One of the natives, George Uzo said they would be happy to see that the jobs were delivered, stressing that the intervention project was necessary to save some structures still standing as well as recover some farmlands.

The 23-kilometer Arochukwu-Ohafia federal road which runs from Ebem in Ohafia to Amuvi Village in Arochukwu Local Council of Abia State is also being ravaged by erosion.

Although a long segment of the road, which was cut off when it caved in some years ago had been sand- filled, there are noticeable threats of new gullies on the road.

The road said to have been constructed during the first republic and later rehabilitated during the second republic administration, defied subsequent repairs by successive governments which residents described as just nothing than grading during the dry season and filling of some potholes in the rainy season.

One of the residents, who identified himself as Ebuka stated: “We heard stories about the award of the contract and saw a contractor working on some portions of the road. But you can see that the road is still in a terrible shape due to erosion.

Under normal circumstances, it should be a 30-minute drive from Ebem Ohofia to Amuvi-Arochukwu, which would enhance the businesses of Ihechiowa, Ututu and Arochukwu communities and beyond.But as they are trying to fix the road, more areas are collapsing.”

In Imo, the Akwakuma erosion has narrowed the road to Onitsha and other adjoining areas.For Enugu, parts of Udi and Ezeagu along the Enugu- Onitsha road are seriously ravaged by erosion. The road, which is a dual carriage way has been reduced to one lane with various parts of the road washed
off.

Efforts to get officials of the Federal Ministry of Works in Enugu to comment failed. An official told The Guardian on condition of anonymity that; “We are controlled from Abuja. It will not be fair to speak unless they direct us to do so.”


https://www.google.com.ng/amp/s/guardian.ng/features/focus/gully-erosion-eating-away-south-east/amp

Now understand why Lagos is under siege

now i understand y buhari is the worst president in africa!

Chai mass immigration to north and west

sirBLUNT:
now i understand y buhari is the worst president in africa!

Hmmm

Its natural disaster uncle

This gat nothing to do with pmb

He promised to fixed it

We pray and hope he does

So that Lagos and southwest will be decongested

Efforts to get officials of the Federal Ministry of Works in Enugu to comment failed. An official told The Guardian on condition of anonymity that; “We are controlled from Abuja. It will not be fair to speak unless they direct us to do so.”

This is why there is need to give autonomy to regions...so they can do things for themselves... yet some parasites gaining from the rot in the structure of Nigeria, would tell you there is no need for restructuring...This is why the country is at the lowest rung of all index of measurement in the world...

sarrki:
Now understand why Lagos is under siege

PATRIOT INDEED

Op posted dS to spite d Igbo s

Zombie

Where is gavelslam,madridguy and Deomeleo sef

sirBLUNT:
now i understand y buhari is the worst president in africa!

Just imagine illiteracy, I never heard of one American blaming President Donald Trump For Hurricane Harvey that happened 2 months ago in Texas, cos they know it is a Natural disaster.
But in my country, people are so blind and beclouded with hate and anger!!

Isoko1stSon:
Op posted dS to spite d Igbo s

Zombie

Am a patriot

I am using this opportunity to call on the Federal government to do something

Isoko1stSon:
Op posted dS to spite d Igbo s

Zombie

NO SARRKI IS NOT A TRIBALIST. HE IS A PATRIOT

The government must do something about this ASAP!

FRESHG:
NO SARRKI IS NOT A TRIBALIST. HE IS A PATRIOT

God bless you

May your days be long on earth with good things

sarrki:

Hmmm
Its natural disaster uncle
This gat nothing to do with pmb
He promised to fixed it
We pray and hope he does
So that Lagos and southwest will be decongested

Every time Buhari promise to fix it, do this do That. Oga Sarrki you are funny eh

Over 900 erosion sites

This is phantasmagoria of erosion gabadoism

sarrki:


Hmmm

Its natural disaster uncle

This gat nothing to do with pmb

He promised to fixed it

We pray and hope he does

So that Lagos and southwest will be decongested

mr patriotic i knew u wil say dadt bt wat i find appauling is ur hatred towards the igbos..evn wen we al knw dat without them the nigerian economy is dead
i hop u wil tel ur empty head leader and his pple to stop stealing their natural resources n focus on their groundnut and 4 how long shall u continue to b slaves...

sirBLUNT:
mr patriotic i knew u wil say dadt bt wat i find appauling is ur hatred towards the igbos..evn wen we al knw dat without them the nigerian economy is dead
i hop u wil tel ur empty head leader and his pple to stop stealing their natural resources n focus on their groundnut and 4 how long shall u continue to b slaves...

Please point of correction

I don't hate Igbo's .

I hate Igbos

Which I don't hide

modelmike7:


Just imagine illiteracy, I never heard of one American blaming President Donald Trump For Hurricane Harvey that happened 2 months ago in Texas, cos they know it is a Natural disaster.
But in my country, people are so blind and beclouded with hate and anger!!

i hav neva seen donald trumph ignoring his pple during natural disaster we al saw wat he did during the mathew hurican,dis a fact and not hatred so oga abeg shut up!

[quote author=FRESHG post=62275830][/quote]



We will beg baba to fix it

sarrki:


Please point of correction

I don't hate Igbo's .

I hate Igbos

Which I don't hide

so wats the difference wat has the Igbos done to you? did the snatch ur wife?

sirBLUNT:
i hav neva seen donald trumph ignoring his pple during natural disaster we al saw wat he did during the mathew hurican,dis a fact and not hatred so oga abeg shut up!

Did you just say sh*t up and you are less than 3 weeks on this forum and you have started cursing and using swear words?!
The mods will treat your matter soon!
KONTINUE! !

sirBLUNT:
so wats the difference wat has the Igbos done to you? did the snatch ur wife?

Please don't use the word again

Igbos are not Igbos

FRESHG:
NO SARRKI IS NOT A TRIBALIST. HE IS A PATRIOT

At first i thought he was a tribalist but gradually i am beginning to see that he MAY not be.

sarrki:

Please don't use the word again
Igbos are not Igbos

tel me their differences pls

modelmike7:


Did you just say sh*t up and you are less than 3 weeks on this forum?!

oh i see is it abt duration? wel 4 ur info i hav been on this furum long dat u can imagin...