Erosion causes road collapse in Abia community as stakeholders call for urgent intervention

Stephanie Clems, Umuahia

The peace and tranquility of Ohabiri -Umuchime na Amanso autonomous community Ossah Ibeku in Umuahia North local government area of Abia State are being threatened by the devastation of erosion in the community.

The community had lived in fears and uncertainty for several months now following the expansion a gully erosion which started like a small ditch.

Their worst fear happened on Friday last week when the erosion finally caused their access road to collapse there by cutting off Umuchime community from the rest of Ohabiri and Amanso.

The traditional ruler of the community, HRM, Eze Iheanyichukwu Ezigbo told journalists on Wednesday that the erosion menace began shortly after the construction firm built gutters that did not channel water properly.

While calling on the state government to rescue them from looming danger, the traditional ruler invoked the mercy of God on their land to stop the erosion.

He also passed a message to governor Otti on his promise to the community during the campaigns.

“We want to now inform him that that road we told him about has now collapsed, we plead for him to come to our rescue,” he said.

The situation has now become life threatening as a widow, Mrs. Oluchi Ogbonna whose house is facing the devastation directly has refused to relocate pending the intervention of the government.

She said her faith in God Jas given her the assurance that she and her family would not be hurt by the erosion, adding that she had a firm belief that governor Alex Otti would fix the road soon.

Other community leaders and stakeholders such as the Umuchime village head, Mr. Ogubuike Onukwue, community women leader, Mrs. Stella Chidiebere and the director of news, Federal Radio corporation of Nigeria, High Chief Stone Agomuo, Elder Obioma Okechukwu lamented on the impact of the collapse on the socio economic conditions.

The decried the difficulty in accessing schools by the children, farms and even visiting relatives and thereafter called on the government to intervene with urgency.

Rev. Fr. Paul Nzekwe also recounted how the situation has affected worship in his parish -St Paul’s catholic church, saying he is likely to lose members if nothing is done fast.