Members of the House of Representatives, on Thursday, called on Federal Government to declare state of emergency on Auchi and its environment with a view to providing holistic remediation to safeguard lives and properties of residents of Etsako Federal Constituency of Edo State.
The lawmakers made the clarion call during the debate on a motion on the ‘Need to stem the rising cases of environmental degradation in Etsako Federal Constituency, Edo State’, sponsored by Hon. Anamero Dekeri.
In his lead debate, Hon. Dekeri observed that the increasing rate of environmental degradation in Etsako Federal Constituency, Edo State, due to rainstorm disasters and gully erosion destroying lives and properties, including farms lands and agricultural produce and rendering some places inaccessible.
“The House is aware of the recent rainstorm disaster that affected Okpella in Etsako East Local Government Area, washing away the bridge connecting Iddo-Okugbe with Awuyemi leading to the Federal Highway, electricity poles and communication routes connecting parts of the State in the country.
“The House is also aware that in Etsako West Local Government Area, there are several cases of gully erosion sites at different magnitudes posing significant danger to lives and properties.
“In Ogwokhai community, Aibotse Hitage Zone, Osomeke and Oshiomhole Village, and along Aviele-Auchi Federal Highway by Osokwili Axis (Etsako West, State Constituency 1), from one side and on the other side (State Constituency 2) the Auchi to Agenebode federal highway has been cut off by a large gully at the Ayogwiri-Ogbona axis of the road, rendering vehicular movement from the
Northern to Southern parts of the country through the route are impassable.
“The House is cognizant of the need to stem this ugly trend of environmental degradation in Etsako Federal Constituency, Edo State,” he noted.
In the bid to bring succour to the people, the lawmakers mandated authorities of Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to replace the damaged electricity poles, wire its other components and reconnect the affected communities to the national grid.
The House also urged Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to urgently intervene and reconstruct the bridge linking Iddo-Okugbe Communities with Awuyemi Community and Ayogwiri-Ogbona axis of the Auchi to Agenebode Federal Highway to allow immediate access by vehicles and commuters to other parts of the country.
The House also mandated Federal Ministry of Works to compel the Contractor handling the road project to resume work without delay.
In the same vein, the lawmakers urged Federal Ministry of Environment and the Office of Ecological Fund to declare a state of emergency on Auchi and its environment to provide holistic remediation to safeguard lives and properties in Etsako Federal Constituency, Edo State.
The House also mandated Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide relief materials to affected Communities across Etsako Federal Constituency, Edo State.
To this end, the House mandated the joint Committees on FERMA, National Emergency Management Agency, Ecological Fund and National Rural Electrification to ensure compliance and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.
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