Worried by the increasing ecological challenges facing Anambra State, the Federal Government delegation from the Ecological Project Office, under the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), has carried out an on-the-spot assessment visit to some erosion sites in Anambra state.
The inspection was carried out in partnership with the Anambra State Ministry of Environment.
Addressing the press shortly after the inspection on Wednesday, the leader of the delegation, Mr. Lawal Mohammed, said the visit was to ascertain the level of damage already caused by erosion and to know how the Federal Government can intervene speedily to end the menace.
Mohammed, who is an Assistant Chief Civil Engineer at the Ecological Project Office, said the report will get to the appropriate authorities and assured of quick intervention from the Federal Government.
He said, “However, it is noteworthy that the Ecological Fund Office is an office under the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation headed by a Permanent Secretary. The Fund constitutes one per cent of the Federation Account, and it is known as the Derivation and Ecology Fund.
“The prime objective of the initiative was to have a pool of funds that would be solely devoted to the funding of ecological projects to mitigate serious ecological problems.
The State Commissioner for Environment, Engr. Felix Odimegwu on his reaction, lamented the increasing number of erosion sites in the state, declaring that the problem is beyond what that state can handle.
He called on the Federal Government to increase ecological funding accruing to Anambra, citing the peculiarity of the challenges faced by the state, decrying the devastation at Ukpor, Ezinifite and Amichi in Nnewi South and Umudim Nnewi North LGA.
Some of the erosion sites visited were, Royal Estate Ububa Village behind the College of Nursing, Nkpor, Oba gully erosion site, Nza Ozubulu-Ekwusigo-Umudike Ukpor, Ukpor-Nnewi road, Awo-Ezimuzor Ezinifite, Nnewi South, Ogbedi Amichi gully erosion site, among others.