The Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, Senator Victor Umeh, has called for erosion mapping of the South East region.
Umeh made the call when he visited Oba in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State to inspect the erosion/landslide site along Onitsha-Owerri Federal Road.
The road was cut off last week, threatening many buildings, including the Rojeny Tourist Village and many companies.
Senator Umeh promised to personally present a wholistic report on the landslide to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, for onward transmission to the Federal Government.
Describing the South-East, especially Anambra State, as the erosion capital of Nigeria, Umeh called for an erosion map of the geopolitical zone.
Stating the importance of the Onitsha-Owerri road, where the landslide occurred, Senator Umeh asked the Federal Government to commence emergency work on the site.
He said if the landslide were not checkmated it would cut off the remaining part of the road, thereby restricting movement to about six states of Imo, Abia, Akwa Ibom, Rivers State and Cross Rivers State.
He said: “What we see here is an emergency that the federal government should intervene in.
“This part of the road has been cut off, and you can see that the only part of the road that is now being used is also threatened.
“This is beyond the control of the state government. So there is a need for the federal government to step in. The other lane may not survive another two weeks from what we see here.
“I came into Anambra last night to see things for myself. I will take the video of this site to the Senate President, Senator Godswill Akpabio, to see how the National Assembly can intervene, at least on this section.”
Senator Umeh maintained that the Oba erosion was not the only one in Anambra, adding that the menace had taken over communities like Obosi, Nanka, Agulu, Orumba, Oko and many others.
