Reps passes motion declaring Ideato Federal Constituency erosion disaster

House of Representatives has passed a resolution asking the Federal government to urgently declare Ideato North/South Federal constituency erosion disaster area and direct the ministry of Works, the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and other relevant agencies to quicklyintervene in the affected areas in order to save lives and properties.

The resolution followed a motion by the Chairman House Committee on Petroleum Resources (down stream) Hon. Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere IkengaImo representing Ideato North and South in the House.

House Ugochinyere in his lead debate on the floor of the house drew the attention of his colleagues to the wide spread destruction of dozens of houses ,farm lands and major road by erosion in the in Ideato North and South adding that the area may record more Internally Displaced Persons (IDP)if urgent steps are not initiated by the Federal government to address the menace.

Citing section 14 (2) B of thr 1999 Constitution which requires the Federal government to provide security and welfare of the citizens Hon Ugochinyere specifically urged the house to prevail on the Federal government to consider Ideato federal constituency of Imo State to save lives and properties in the affected areas including.

Dimagu, Okohia (Umufeke), Umuaghobe (Uhuala), Isiekenesi, Urualla, Obodukwu, Umueshi, Amanator, Arondizuogu and Akokwa .

According to him ” Ideato has become an erosion disaster zone with eight people already dead since the raining season started and many homes destroyed and the erosion disaster has gone deep into Akokwa, Arondizuogu Urualla, Obodukwu, Umueshi, Amanator, and their farm lands.

The bridges have completely collapsed and access to farm lands is now impassable.

But the House in a resolution also mandated the Federal Ministry of Works, Federal Roads Maintenance Agency, Federal Ministry of
Environment, and Ecological Fund Office to intervene to ensure that the gullies created by the erosion and the roads, houses and infrastructure destroyed are repaired and reconstructed as quick as possible.

The House also urged the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, National Emergency Management Agency, and National Commission for
Refugees, Migrants and IDPs, and Ecological Fund Office to ensure that the persons who have been displaced from their houses, offices, business premises are resettled.