*Urge Special attention in southeast states
By Hauwa Ali and Fatima Saka
The House of Representatives has called upon the Federal and State governments to make urgent arrangements for future flood disasters.
This request follows Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila’s resignation from the House to assume the position of Chief of Staff to the president after his motion of urgent importance on flooding.
The House members expressed their concerns about the significant areas in the country that are susceptible to flooding, as predicted by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) in January of this year.
In response, the lawmakers urged the government to prepare relief efforts and implement intervention strategies to minimize the impact on Nigerian citizens.
The rep members also called on the Federal Ministry of Environment and other relevant agencies to take a holistic measure and systematic approach to address the gully erosion menace across Southeastern Nigeria.
This resolution followed a motion raised on Wednesday in Abuja on the need for the control of persistent gully erosion along Ugwuonyeama 9th Mile Federal Road in Enugu North And Udi Local Government Area sponsored by Hon. Chimaobi Sam Atu.
The House noted the strategic importance of the Ugwuonyeama 9th Mile Road to the economy of the South East States in particular and the country, in general.
It said, “The importance of the road cannot be underestimated as the road enables traders to transport goods to markets within and to neighboring States and serves as a route to Enugu State, the commercial city in South East.”
The House noted that the adverse effects of erosion on these roads have long been ignored and if not checked may cut off access to other States within the South East.
The House worried that Ugwuonyeama 9th Mile Road has remained a death trap resulting in loss of lives, goods and services worth millions of naira on a daily basis due to frequent accidents on the bad portions of the road yet to be completed.
The House urged the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing and Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), to complete the reconstruction of Ugwuonyeama 9th Mile Road to prevent the total collapse of the road.
It also mandated the Committees on Environment, Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and Works (when constituted) to investigate the threat posed by Gully Erosion along Ugwuonyeama 9th Mile Road in Enugu State and recommend a long term solution.
Additionally, the House resolved to invite the Nigeria National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide an update to the House regarding the measures currently in place to prepare for the upcoming floods across the country.
