The Senate has called for urgent Federal Government intervention in flood and erosion-affected communities across Anambra, Imo, Ebonyi and other states.
The call followed motions moved by Sen. Victor Umeh (NDC Anambra Central), Prof Anthony Ani( APC Ebonyi South) and Osita Izunaso (APC Imo West) on the devastating floods, gully erosion, loss of lives, destruction of homes and farmlands and displacement of residents in their constituencies.
The lawmakers urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide relief materials, including food, medical supplies and other essential assistance to affected communities.
The senate also called on relevant federal ministries of works and environment to assess damaged roads, restore access routes and implement sustainable flood and erosion control measures.
Moving the motion on the situation in Anambra Central, Sen. Victor Umeh said communities in Ogidi, Obosi and Oko local government areas were facing severe environmental and humanitarian crises.
Umeh attributed the recurring flooding and erosion to heavy rainfall, noting that the disasters had destroyed homes, agricultural land and infrastructure stressing that it had disrupted economic activities and livelihoods.
He noted that at least four persons, including a pregnant woman and a six-year-old child, had reportedly lost their lives, while several families were displaced.
The senator also expressed concern over the expanding erosion gullies threatening residential areas and critical transport infrastructure, including sections of the Onitsha-Owerri expressway.
Seconding the motion, Sen. Anthony Ani supported the proposed intervention and drew attention to the wider impact of flooding and erosion on communities in the Ebonyi south.
Ani said the floods had destroyed homes, household valuables, agricultural crops and livestock, leaving residents vulnerable and worsening economic hardship.
He urged NEMA to provide humanitarian assistance to affected communities and called on the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to assess agricultural losses and provide emergency support.
He also proposed that the senate observe a minute’s silence in honour of those who died in the disasters.
Contributing, Sen. Osita Izunaso said flooding and gully erosion continued to threaten communities across Imo West, adding that he had presented a motion on the problem to the Senate in 2023.
Izunaso listed several affected communities and roads, noting that the erosion had destroyed homes, businesses, farmlands and roads and created dangerous conditions for motorists and pedestrians.
He urged NEMA, relevant agencies and the Imo government to undertake emergency interventions, including the provision of relief materials, drainage works, road rehabilitation and erosion control.
He further called for a coordinated, long-term rehabilitation and ecological restoration programme in the affected communities.
Adopting the prayers, the senate mandated the relevant ministries and agencies to assess the affected areas and implement appropriate emergency and long-term interventions.
It also proposed ecological intervention to cover affected communities in Imo, Anambra, Ebonyi, and other states requiring assistance.
The senate also mandated its committees on environment, works, ecology and climate change, alongside other to conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the affected areas and report back in one month
The lawmakers subsequently observed a minute’s silence in honour of those who lost their lives in the flooding incidents
