2 months ago
15 ARTICLE AD
The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to provide funding for the construction of new routes following the scourge of erosion affecting some states of the federation.
The House arrived at the resolution after a motion moved by the member representing Moba/Ilejemeje/Ido Osi Federal Constituency, Ekiti State, Kolawole Akinlayo was adopted during Thursday’s plenary.
Leading the debate on the motion titled, “Need to implement safety measures against gully erosion menace in Nigeria,” Akinlayo noted that the ravaging effect of coastal erosion across the country has posed a significant threat to the security and livelihoods of many communities.
He noted that there is, therefore, an urgent need for government intervention and sustainable solutions to protect the citizens and their environment from avoidable hazards.
He said, “The House is concerned about the threat of gully erosion and its devastating consequences on the livelihoods and safety of the indigenous people and residents of the country. In addition, the problem of gully erosion has flooded a lot of structures, churches, farms, places of worship, schools, and football fields, and the roads are in a deplorable state.
“We are also concerned that the issue of gully erosion poses a significant threat to the Indigenous people of the communities, causing flooding of various structures, churches, farms, schools, and football fields, further complicating the financial security of the people and displaced residents.
“If quick action is not taken to avert the disaster, the consequences of severe flooding at the height of the rainy season could spark a looming danger and ultimately result in the deaths of well-meaning Nigerians due to erosion. As a result, reclamation and shore protection measures must be put in place to address the threat to communities that could otherwise disappear.”
That said, he drew the attention of the House to the need to maintain and preserve the ecological environment in local communities in his constituency, stressing that “Erosion tragedy in the area could lead to the collapse of the entire rural agricultural economy in vital food-producing regions.
Consequently, the House urged the Federal Ministry of Works, Federal Roads and Maintenance Agency, and Ecological Fund Office “To urgently fund the construction of a new route that will link affected communities in each State across Nigeria.
It also mandated the National Emergency Management Agency to ensure the resettlement of displaced residents in affected areas and provide relief materials for their use.
The House further urged the Ecological Fund Office and NEMA to jointly agree and engage relevant experts to implement measures, such as slope stabilization, gabion installations, terracing, re-vegetation, and construction of losses, and minimize the risks to nearby infrastructure.
The legislative body further charged the Committee on Environment to conduct a tour of all affected communities to assess the damages and report back within four weeks for legislative action.
