Enugwu-Ukwu community in Njikoka LGA in Anambra, threatened by gully erosion, has called for assistance from the government and wealthy individuals.

Christopher Onyekwue, a community leader, appealed to the Anambra government to pay urgent attention to the erosion menace in the community.

Mr Onyekwue said on Monday that, although he made several attempts to draw the Anambra government’s attention to the issue, there had yet to be a response.

“I have, through the State Ministry of Environment, sent in documents with pictures to back my claims on the erosion menace, but nothing has happened,” he said.

He said that the deep level of gully erosion in the villages has affected the entire community negatively.

Mr Onyekwue said, “For many years, this erosion gullies house very dangerous reptiles and animals and has continued to be a problem for our people.

“The erosion has destroyed our farmlands and available lands for residential purposes of our people. We are incurring losses as a result. We call on our dear governor, Prof Charles Soludo, to save us from possible extinction.

“Every rainfall has a speed impact on the gully due to lack of attention and erosion control internal mechanism.”

Meanwhile, Felix Odumegwu, the commissioner for the environment, has acknowledged the claims and assured that the government will soon intervene.

Mr Odumegwu said that the government is aware of the erosion sites in the Enugwu-Ukwu community and over 160 other communities. According to him, Anambra has over 1,000 erosion sites, and due to a lack of funds, the government was gradually dealing with the menace.

The commissioner said the government was determined to mitigate all the erosion problems, but since “erosion control requires huge funds, we have informed” the federal government.

He added, “We explained the need to increase the ecological funds of the state to the federal government.

“If we get financial assistance from the European Union, through the Anambra government, most erosion sites in the state will be handled. The government has done the Nnobi-Umuoji erosion site, Onitsha-Owerri road, Ebenator, Ekwulobia, Ihiala axis, and Nibo axis, amongst others.

“I want to assure all the communities facing erosion menace that Soludo is not sleeping, once there are ecological funds, attention would be given to them.”

The commissioner disclosed that all community president-generals in the state have been asked to highlight the menace in documents to the governor.

He also urged all the residents to take ownership of their communities to check for erosion problems on time.

(NAN)