Enugu Community Cries Out Over Life-Threatening Erosion

Unless government quickly intervenes, residents of Okpuno Nsude in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State and their property may be washed away by erosion when the rains begin.

The agrarian community has been cut into two by erosion, and all efforts to curtail it by the dwellers, who plant trees, dig holes, build barriers and adopt various measures to fight the scourge every year has failed to stop the ravaging disaster.

At a forum on Monday, leaders of the community appealed to residents not to relent in personal and communal effort to stop erosion from washing the community away.

Engr. Nickson Eze, Secretary of Okpuno village, said, “I advise everybody to join hands in controlling this erosion, and we should not do anything that will escalate it. We should contribute funds and labour in this fight. We are optimistic that the relevant authorities will come to our aid very soon.”

One of the residents, Titus Ozoani, said the community lives in fear and had tried it best to stop the erosion.

“Through communal efforts, we planted bamboo trees to ameliorate the situation. Although it curbs the excesses, a lot need to be done.

“There was a time the authorities of the World Bank came to supervise it. Ever since then, we have remained expectant. They are yet to return. This erosion has killed our farming activities. The effect is devastating.”

Ogbuzuru Oliver Eze, Chairman of Okpuno village said the community has been the most affected erosion zone at Nsude, stressing that the waters pass through the village.

“We have contacted relevant bodies for assistance. We contacted the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project, NEWMAP, which informed us that they were not coming to solve the problem too soon; that we should seek other interventions.

“We also contacted Enugu State Erosion Control authorities. It is pathetic because presently we are overwhelmed. We have developed phobia for rainy seasons. By the time the rains properly start, our road networks would not be motorable. I know our able governor. He has promised us that we would not regret at all. That is at the state level.

“At the federal level, President Muhammadu Buhari is an upright person. He is the president of our country. We seek his help because this is getting out of hand.”