More stakeholders have continued to call on the federal government to take prompt and proactive measures in tackling erosion challenges in Anambra State as well as the Southeast region of the country.

 

Speaking in Awka, the Vice President of Ohaneze Ndigbo worldwide, Chief Damian Okeke Ogene said this would complement what the state governments are doing to tackle the devastation.

 

Paul Ezeoke reports that Chief Okeke Ogene while commending Governor Chukwuma Soludo for prompt response to gully erosion that is devastating Oba axis of Onitsha-Owerri Road, asked the federal government to as a matter of urgency mobilize Federal Road Maintenance Agency and other relevant authorities to support the state government’s intervention.

 

He regretted that lack of proper maintenance culture and failure of some contractors to channel water to proper discharge points have continued to aggravate challenges of erosion in the state and Southeast region which he said is threatening life and property.

 

He called for Environmental Impact Assessment to be effectively carried out before execution of any project and advocated reintroduction of road camps to be established within ten kilometers of each stretch of road for regular and efficient maintenance of roads to increase their life span and urged individuals and communities to avoid indiscriminate dumping of refuse and building on water ways to ensure free flow of water.

 

Also speaking, a community leader, Chief Innocent Udemba said that protection of the environment should be a collective responsibility of government and the people and appealed to the people to desist from indiscriminate sand excavation and cutting of trees to preserve the ecosystem.