WORRIED by the continued menace of erosion in the area, the Umuoru community in Aguata Council of Anambra State has called on the state and Federal Governments to come to its rescue.
The former National President of Uga Improvement Union, John Umeh Asiegbu, who yesterday conducted reporters on a tour of the erosion sites at Umuoru, lamented that the community had suffered untold hardship due to the ecological problem.
Asiegbu, accompanied by other elders in the community, said: “Half of my kinsmen and their families have been cut off and separated from one another for over 10 years by erosion. Several economic crops and homes have been washed away, and we are helpless.
“We appeal to the state and Federal Governments to come and assist the community, award contracts to check the fast-advancing erosion, as well as resume work on the road linking Imo State through Uga in Anambra State, which has remained impassable for many years”.
Asiegbu, who stated that the community members had been trying their best to control the erosion, however, explained that the menace developed as a result of abandoned road projects in the area.
According to him, “the road project from Orlu-Ekwulobia-Awka between 1982/1983 was abandoned.
“In 2001, a joint bridge contract signed by Aguata and Idiato Council was again abandoned, while a Federal Government/Anambra State erosion contract awarded was equally not executed in 2007”.
As a remedy, he appealed to the authorities concerned to initiate the construction of a bridge to link Isiokpo in Ideato (Imo State) and Uga in Anambra to ease communication in the area.
