The House of Representatives on Thursday, October 5, raised concern over the erosion problem in Auchi, Edo state and it’s environ and asked the federal government to immediately declare a state of emergency in the area to provide holistic remediation in order to safeguard lives and properties.
The House also asked the 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 road linking Auchi and Agenebode was cut off by erosion leading to the youths creating an alternative route through which they now extort commuters.
Adopting a motion on notice sponsored by Hon. Anamero Dekeri, the House asked the Federal Ministry of Works to compel the Contractor handling the Auchi/Agenebode road project to resume work without delay.
The House also asked the Rural Electrification Agency to replace the damaged electricity poles, wires and its other components; and reconnect the affected communities to the national grid.
Dekeri lament the increasing rate of environmental degradation in Etsako Federal Constituency due to rainstorm disasters and gully erosion destroying lives and properties, including farms lands and agricultural produce and rendering some places inaccessible.
He said the recent rainstorm disaster that affected Okpella in Etsako East Local Government Area, washed 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.
He said further 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.”
The lawmaker said,
“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 impassable.”
He said there was the need to stem this ugly trend of environmental degradation in Etsako Federal Constituency, Edo State.
