The House of Representatives has called for urgent federal intervention to tackle the worsening flooding and erosion crisis ravaging several communities in Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State.
The call 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.
The motion was presented during Tuesday’s plenary by Hon. Daniel Amos on behalf of Kalu, who presided over the sitting.
Presenting the motion, Amos said Bende 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 situation had gone beyond environmental degradation, warning that it was threatening livelihoods, food security and the safety of residents across affected communities.
According to the motion, the situation was particularly alarming in Ugwueke, Amaokai, Amaeze and Ezeukwu, where torrential rainfall had triggered flooding that submerged homes, destroyed farmlands and damaged access roads.
The House also expressed concern over the worsening environmental situation in Ndi Uzor and Akunu, where two persons reportedly lost their lives.
The motion further stated that the flooding submerged several homes and affected the palaces of Eze Ifeanyi Owo of Amaeze Community and Eze Gilbert Chukwu of Amaokai Community, while destroying farmlands and displacing residents.
The lawmakers said the scale and recurrence of the flooding and erosion had surpassed the capacity of the affected communities, making sustained federal intervention necessary.
The House consequently called for a coordinated response involving emergency relief, technical assessment, erosion control, flood management, restoration of damaged infrastructure and measures to protect the livelihoods of residents.
Adopting the motion through a voice vote, the House commiserated with the families of those who lost their lives in the flooding, particularly the two victims from Ndi Uzor, and observed a minute of silence in their honour.
The lawmakers urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), South East Development Commission (SEDC) and Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) to immediately provide relief materials and humanitarian assistance to affected communities.
The requested assistance includes emergency shelters, potable water, food, medical supplies and other essential materials for families displaced or affected by the flooding.
The House also urged the Ecological Fund Office, working with the Federal Ministry of Environment and other relevant agencies, to undertake an immediate and comprehensive technical assessment of erosion sites in Ugwueke, Amaokai, Amaeze, Ezeukwu, Uzuakoli, Ozuitem, Ndi Uzor/Akanu and other severely affected communities.
It further called on the Federal Government to urgently approve and fund comprehensive flood and erosion control projects, 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 affected agricultural communities.
Similarly, the Federal Ministry of Works and the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) were asked to assess and restore roads and access routes rendered impassable by erosion and flooding.
The motion was subsequently referred by the Deputy Speaker to the House Committees on NEMA, SEDC, NDDC, the Ecological Fund Office and Legislative Compliance for further action.
