House Reps Seek Urgent Federal Intervention Over Flooding, Erosion Crisis in Bende, Abia
House of Representatives has called for immediate federal intervention to address the escalating ecological crisis, flooding and loss of lives and property in Ugwueke, Amaokai, Amaeze and Ezeukwu communities and other parts of Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State.
The resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance by the Deputy Speaker and member representing the Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu.
Presenting the motion during Tuesday plenary on behalf of the Deputy Speaker who presided over the session, Hon. Daniel Amos noted that Bende Federal Constituency is facing an increasingly severe ecological crisis characterised by gully erosion, flooding and destruction of homes, farmlands, roads and other critical infrastructure, with consequences extending beyond environmental degradation to threaten livelihoods, food security and the safety of residents.
He said the situation has become particularly alarming in Ugwueke, Amaokai, Amaeze and Ezeukwu, where flood, following torrential rainfalls, has consumed homes, farmlands and roads while threatening additional properties, with the scale of erosion now exceeding earlier assessments.
The House also expressed worry over the worsening situation in Ndi Uzor and the Akunu villages, where environmental challenges have resulted in the loss of two lives in Ndi Uzor.
The motion also stated that the flooding devastated several communities, submerging homes including the palaces of Eze Ifeanyi Owo of Amaeze Community and Eze Gilbert Chukwu of Amaokai Community, destroying farmlands and displacing residents.
The House said the scale of the challenges has surpassed the capacity of the affected communities and requires sustained federal intervention.
“The recent devastating flooding across communities in Bende, particularly Ugwueke, Amaokai, Amaeze and Ezeukwu, following torrential rainfall, which submerged homes and other properties, including the palaces of Eze Ifeanyi Owo of Amaeze Community and Eze Gilbert Chukwu of Amaokai Community, destroyed farmlands and access routes, displaced residents and resulted in the loss of lives.
“The recurrence and increasing severity of such flooding alongside the area’s expanding erosion crisis, demonstrate the urgent need for a coordinated response to Bende’s growing ecological vulnerability.
“The scale of the challenges which has surpassed the capacity of affected communities and requires sustained federal intervention, including emergency relief. technical assessment, erosion control, flood management, restoration of damaged infrastructure and measures to protect livelihoods”, the motion stated.
Adopting the motion which got overwhelming support of the majority of the members when put to voice vote, the House commiserated with the families of persons who lost their lives in the recent flooding, particularly the two deceased in Ndi Uzor, and observed a minute silence for the deceased.
The House urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the South East Development Commission (SEDC) and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to immediately deploy relief materials, emergency shelter, potable water, food, medical supplies and other humanitarian assistance to affected families.
It also urged the Ecological Fund Office, in conjunction with the Federal Ministry of Environment and other relevant agencies, to undertake an immediate and comprehensive technical assessment of the erosion in Ugwueke, Amaokai, Amaeze, Ezeukwu, Uzuakoli, Ozuitem, Ndi Uzor/Akanu and other severely affected communities.
The House called on the Federal Government to urgently approve and fund comprehensive erosion and flood-control works, including drainage systems, gully stabilisation, watershed management and channel rehabilitation.
It further urged the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to assess losses suffered by farmers and consider recovery and livelihood support, while urging the Federal Ministry of Works and FERMA to assess and restore roads and access routes rendered impassable by erosion and flooding.
The motion was eventually referred to House Committees on NEMA, SEDC, NDDC, the Ecological Fund Office and Legislative Compliance by the Deputy Speaker for further action.