The Anambra State governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, is seeking a national emergency to tackle the challenges of erosion bedevilling the state.
Soludo pointed out that the issue of gully erosion should be a national emergency as the resources to tackle the problem are beyond the capacity of the state government.
The governor made these remarks during the birthday/priesthood thanksgiving mass of Father Anthony Chiegboka, held at St. Peter’s Parish, Oko, Anambra State, according to a statement by the Press Secretary, Mr Christian Aburime, on Monday.
Soludo lamented that Anambra has road crises, worsened by flooding and erosion.
“Sadly, roads are washed off completely. I have to admit that Anambra has a road crisis. We are complaining that then the flood came and destroyed the roads that were already in a bad state.
“We are deploying every penny we have to ensure that in the first phase, we fix strategic roads in the state.
“There are parts of Anambra that have not seen one kilometre of tarred road. Anambra West is the only local government area whose headquarters are not accessible but we are working on that. By the first quarter of next year, we will drive to Nzam.
“We are flagging off so many roads from Achina to Umuchu to Umunze, Nnewi South, Osumenyi, Ukpor to Ozubulu, Ihembosi, etc.
“Onitsha is the largest city in the South East. We visited New Market Road, Abagana, and Nimo. In Okpoko, one million people are trapped there but 14 km of road construction is ongoing there.
“We are doing the strategic ones and doing all the unreached roads. When rain falls, water floods the areas around Mmili John Ojoto and Ogbunike.
“The quality of roads we are delivering is such that Anambra has never had before. Due to financial constraints, we are very strict with our budget.”
The governor emphasised that so far, the state government has awarded 146km of roads and is targeting 220km of roads around the state.
“But we all have a personal responsibility. People block drainage, and runoff water into the street after building their houses. People should control water flow from their homes because this water flows to the roads and cuts them off gradually, causing gully erosion.
“All of us collectively have one contribution or the other. We must understand this fact to solve our environmental challenges,” he added.
He also urged the priests to teach the congregation that the gully erosion in the state is manmade.
“The state government will do as much as it can within its capacity. We shall intervene, but the people have their responsibility.
“The federal, state governments and the people have their collective responsibility. If this is done, Nigeria will be well,” he stated.
