Abia State to Start Urgent Work on Flood and Erosion Issues

The Abia State Government has announced that it will start urgent work to control flood and erosion problems in rural communities affected by these issues.

The Commissioner for Information, Okey Kanu, shared this news while speaking to journalists after the State Executive Council (EXCO) meeting in Umuahia on Tuesday.

Mr Kanu said this action follows Governor Alex Otti’s order to the Ministry of Environment to act quickly in the affected areas.

The communities involved are Amamba Uzuakoli in Bende Local Government Area and Ipupe Ubakala in Umuahia South Local Government Area.

“Let me report that relief will soon come the way of inhabitants of Amamba Uzuakoli flood and erosion site in Bende Local Government Area and Ipupe, Ubakala flood site in Umuahia South Local Government Area,” Mr Kanu stated.

He explained that the governor has instructed the Commissioner for Environment to put in place urgent measures to reclaim damaged land and prevent further harm.

Mr Kanu mentioned that the Commissioner for Environment has already visited the affected areas with a team of engineers to assess the damage directly.

“The ministry is intensifying efforts to ensure that mitigation works commence immediately in the affected communities,” he added.

Mr Kanu also stated that the Abia State Climate Change Policy Document is waiting for the governor’s approval, calling it an important step in tackling environmental issues in the state.

“As soon as the governor signs off on that policy document, it will become operational,” he said.

“This development will make the international community begin to take Abia State more seriously in its efforts to combat climate change, particularly in opening up several climate funding opportunities across sectors in the state.”

Mr Kanu pointed out that putting the policy into action will help lessen the effects of climate-related problems like flooding, erosion, heat waves, and food insecurity.

He also mentioned that the Ministry of Environment has continued its house-to-house sanitary inspection exercise across all 17 local government areas of the state.