Anambra State governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo has called on the federal government and
other development partners to come to the rescue of his state,
saying between 30% to 40% of the state land mass was currently
threatened by erosion and other ecological problems.
The governor, who sent out the appeal Wednesday while speaking to newsmen after meeting with
Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo at the State House, Abuja, noted that erosion had become a matter of emergency in his state.
According to him, the state’s entire budget for ten consecutive
years would not be sufficient to remedy the situation, adding that,
only an urgent intervention from
the federal government and development partner could save the situation.
He, however, disclosed that the state government had already commenced steps towards introducing
better environmental awareness among the people, targeted at
limiting factors that worsen the erosion problem.
His words: “The environment is our number one existential threat, other than security, Anambra is the erosion capital of Nigeria.
Perhaps, you might know that about 30% to 40% of our land is under threat of erosion, there’s
no other state like Anambra, when it comes to erosion.
Even last week, somewhere between
Ezinifite/Orsumenyi Road was cut off again.
Huge gullies everywhere; Obosi, Oko, Nanka, Agulu, everywhere, there’s erosion menace.
“Like I said, while our landmass is shrinking massively due to
erosion and so on, it’s far, far beyond the capacity of a state government to deal with.
Even if you were to sink the entire budget
of the state into dealing with the gully erosion in the state, even if you were to sink all of them for the next ten years, it will still be like a drop in the ocean.
“This is an area where the state government wishes to partner effectively with the federal government and the development
partners to deal with that.
It is a state of emergency, with regards
to erosion. And of course, we’re also promoting this concept of responsible citizenship on the part
of our people, to be able to take some responsible steps.
“We are providing some regulations; people controlling the runoff
water from their homes, they don’t just pipe them and get them off on the streets.
Of course, they must go somewhere, contain it
within your place.”
