A team of experts in ecological and environmental issues has urged all the gubernatorial candidates in the November 6 election in Anambra State to make the issue of erosion menace in the state the focus as they aspired to govern the state.
The call came as the group raised the alarm over threats of erosion disaster in the state, warning that unless something was done urgently, most communities in the state would lose a substantial part of their land to erosion.
The team, operating under the aegis of Team of Ecological Experts out of the Old Aguata Union, OAU, is headed by a foremost Environmental Hydrogeologist and the former Vice-Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Professor Emeritus, Boniface Egboka, and a US-trained ecologist, Mr Ikenna Ellis Ezenekwe.
In a press statement issued in Awka on Sunday, the group said there was a need to begin a strong campaign to restore the environment by getting governorship candidates of various political parties to sign a commitment pact to tackle erosion problems if they emerged as governor.
In the statement signed by Professor Egboka, the group outlined suggestions that could help the state government to tackle the erosion problem in the state, while also charging governorship candidates to outline their programmes towards tackling environmental challenges.
“We humbly-believe and aver that through the gentlemanly agreement and commitment by the leading and other political members/actors, the principles for which the position of governorship was zoned to the Southern Senatorial Zone of Anambra State; interestingly, fortuitously and luckily too, favours the southern Senatorial Zone that experiences the largest and most severe and destructive impacts of gully erosion in the State.
“This indescribable ecological menace/nuisance is of most particular deadly occurrence with the Old Aguata area block of the total environment of Anambra State.
“We take this opportunity as one in a lifetime opportunity for our gubernatorial candidates to come to our communities and tell the people of these communities what their plans, commitments and strategies are, and will be, when any of them succeeds and takes over as the Chief Executive Officer for the governance of Anambra State”, the group demanded.
The group listed communities in the southern senatorial zone that are worse hit by erosion to include; Nanka, Agulu/Oko, Ekwulobia, Akpo, Achina, Umuchu, Uga, Adazi, Alor, Oraukwu and others.
“These large gullies, some of which are very deep canyons, can be seen at the Agulu/Nanka/Oko/Ekwulobia axis. They are also seen in other communities like Nnewi where they have begun to develop smaller finger-like gullies that push into the communities with high aggression”, it noted.
Some of the recommendations made by the group as means of stemming the menace of erosion in the area included: all roads to be constructed with proper anti-gully erosion drainages, a comprehensive Storm Management Plan (SMP) for affected communities, durable environmental laws.
“The State Government set up a Flood and Ecological/Erosion Control Ministry. A Ministry principally dedicated to the control of Erosion Menace and other Ecological Hazards that bedevil the State”, it also recommended.
“Others are the establishment of a Green Belt Zone to be marked out in parts of Anambra State particularly within the affected communities, creation and reawakening of strong awareness towards flood control, soil/gully erosion and landslides as well as their abatement within the residence-areas that are erosion-prone, among others”, it added.
YOU SHOULD NOT MISS THESE HEADLINES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
Buhari Urges MTN For Quality Service, Downward Price Review In Cost Of Data, Other Services
President Muhammadu Buhari Friday at State House Abuja urged the MTN Group to make the available top-of-the-range service to its Nigerian subscribers… Experts task guber candidates on erosion menace Experts task guber candidates on erosion menace Experts task guber candidates on erosion menace Experts task guber candidates on erosion menace.
He described the statement issued by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission…
In a recent attack, hackers sent fake legal notices that looked like they came from…
“This visionary policy will have far-reaching impacts on the economic empowerment, which means Mr. President…
“I just don't understand how people think that if we allow a dictator,
Olagunju, who represented the Commissioner for Infrastructure, Energy and Digitalisation, Mr. Sediko Douka, also said,…
Davido tweeted: “Outside all the noise it’s good to see that the good one does…
This website uses cookies.