Anambra State Government Attracts International Collaboration To Tackle Erosion Challenges

Anambra State government has attracted top international bodies to assist in tackling major erosion sites in the state.

The Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr Onyekachukwu Ibezim disclosed this shortly after the inspection of some major erosion sites in Ezioko village, Oko, in Orumba North Local Government Area.

During the inspection, the ABS observed that the erosion site popularly known as Mbuze-Akama which according to the villagers had caved in over thirty houses and other valuables, will soon sack the entire Ezioko village and neighboring villages if action is not urgently taken by relevant authorities, as more houses are still under threat by the erosion.

The Deputy Governor, who regretted the rate at which the State is losing its landmass to erosion, pointed out that Anambra State and federal government alone cannot remedy the situation, hence the need for international organization’s assistance.

Assuring the people in the area of the immediate intervention, Dr Ibezim said that one of the international organizations that accompanied him on the inspection exercise will train people of the State on practices to imbibe to prevent erosion, including bamboo planting.

Dr Ibezim warned the villagers and the entire Ndi Anambra against practices that could aid erosion, especially engaging in illegal excavations, which he identified as one of the major causes of erosion menace.

On his part, the United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Mr Matthias Schmale who led a team from the United Nations Office for Co-ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, assured of United Nations assistance to Anambra state in tackling the erosion.

Also speaking, an American Advisory Board Member of Afri Decarbonization Corporative Limited, Miss Diana Doheny reaffirmed that they are ready to partner Anambra state government in erosion control and prevention, disclosing that her organization will train Ndi Anambra on bamboo planting and other preventive measures against erosion through Sustainable Trans Environment International Foundation, headed by Mr John Ogbodo.

Some indigenes of Ezioko village who spoke to the ABS, including Professor Chukwurah Aginam, Mr Lambert Mmaduka, and Mr Ikenna Ekwueme thanked the state government and the international teams for coming to their aid, recommending that the government should checkmate excavation activities in the area as according to them the erosion escalated because of illegal excavation by some groups.

Among the Deputy Governor’s entourage were the State Chief of Staff, Mr Earnest Ezeajughi, Commissioner for Environment, Mr Felix Odimegwu, Transition Committee Chairman for Anambra East Local Government Area, Dr Anselm Onuorah, that of Anambra West, Mr Felix Ikechi, among others.

international organizations that came for the inspection include UNICEF, World Health Organization, United Nations Office for Humanitarian Affairs, and International Organization for Migration, a United Nations Migration Agency.