By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (PRECISE POST) – The House of Representatives has called for immediate federal intervention to tackle the worsening ecological crisis, flooding and loss of lives and property in Ugwueke, Amaokai, Amaeze, Ezeukwu and other communities in Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State.
The resolution followed a motion of urgent public importance sponsored by the Deputy Speaker of the House and member representing Bende Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, and presented on his behalf during Tuesday’s plenary by Hon. Daniel Amos, while the Deputy Speaker presided over the session.
Presenting the motion, Amos said Bende Federal Constituency was facing an increasingly severe ecological crisis characterised by gully erosion, flooding and the destruction of homes, farmlands, roads and other critical infrastructure.
He said the crisis had gone beyond environmental degradation, warning that it was threatening livelihoods, food security and the safety of residents across the affected communities.
According to him, the situation had become particularly alarming in Ugwueke, Amaokai, Amaeze and Ezeukwu, where torrential rainfall and flooding had consumed homes, farmlands and roads, while putting additional properties at risk.
The House also expressed concern over the worsening ecological situation in Ndi Uzor and Akanu communities, noting that the environmental crisis had already resulted in the loss of two lives in Ndi Uzor.
The motion further stated that the recent flooding had devastated several communities, submerging homes, including the palaces of Eze Ifeanyi Owo of Amaeze Community and Eze Gilbert Chukwu of Amaokai Community.
It added that farmlands and access routes had been destroyed, while several residents had been displaced from their homes.
The House noted that the recurrence and increasing severity of flooding, coupled with the expanding erosion crisis, had demonstrated the urgent need for a coordinated response to the growing ecological vulnerability of the constituency.
It stressed that the scale of the challenges had surpassed the capacity of the affected communities, making sustained federal intervention imperative.
The motion called for emergency relief, technical assessment, erosion control, flood management, restoration of damaged infrastructure and measures to protect the livelihoods of affected residents.
Adopting the motion by a majority voice vote, the House commiserated with families who lost loved ones in the recent flooding, particularly the two persons who died in Ndi Uzor, and observed a minute of silence in their honour.
The House urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), South East Development Commission (SEDC) and Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to immediately provide relief materials, emergency shelter, potable water, food, medical supplies and other humanitarian assistance to affected families.
It also called on the Ecological Fund Office, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment and other relevant agencies, to undertake an immediate and comprehensive technical assessment of erosion in Ugwueke, Amaokai, Amaeze, Ezeukwu, Uzuakoli, Ozuitem, Ndi Uzor/Akanu and other severely affected communities.
The lawmakers further urged the Federal Government to urgently approve and fund comprehensive erosion and flood-control measures, including drainage systems, gully stabilisation, watershed management and channel rehabilitation.
The Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security was also urged to assess the losses suffered by farmers and consider recovery and livelihood support for those affected.
Similarly, the Federal Ministry of Works and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) were urged to assess and restore roads and access routes rendered impassable by erosion and flooding.
The Deputy Speaker subsequently referred the motion to the House Committees on NEMA, SEDC, NDDC, the Ecological Fund Office and Legislative Compliance for further action.
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