The Civil Liberties Organization (CLO), Anambra State Branch, has made an urgent appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately declare a state of emergency on the devastating erosion menace ravaging parts of Idemili North, Idemili South, and Aguata local government areas of Anambra State.

In a statement signed by Evangelist Comrade Vincent Ezekwueme, AMBP-UN, Chairman, and Comrade Chidi Mbah, Secretary, and issued to newsmen in Awka on Wednesday, CLO described the situation as “life-threatening, devastating, and a ticking time bomb” that requires urgent and decisive federal intervention.

A HUMANITARIAN AND INFRASTRUCTURAL CRISIS

According to the organization, the erosion menace has reached catastrophic levels, threatening to submerge residential buildings, cut off major roads, displace entire communities, and worsen the already excruciating hardship faced by residents and road users.

“It is no longer business as usual. If left unchecked, these gully erosions will wipe out whole neighborhoods and sever critical economic arteries in Anambra State and the South East at large,” the statement read.

CLO specifically highlighted the following areas as being in dire need of immediate Federal Government intervention:

- Onitsha-Owerri Road

- Ugamuma, Obosi

- Ekwulobia

- Oba, Ogidi, Umuchu and several other adjoining communities

The organization noted that daily movement has become perilous for commuters, while properties worth billions of naira are at risk of total destruction.

CLO’S DEMANDS TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT

In view of the gravity of the situation, CLO is calling on President Tinubu to:

1. Declare a State of Emergency* on erosion in the affected LGAs to unlock emergency funds and fast-track intervention.

2. Dispatch the Honourable Ministers of Works and Environment for an immediate on-the-spot assessment of the affected sites.

3. Direct the Federal Ministry of Works to commence emergency palliative measures to contain further spread pending the award of contracts for permanent solutions.

4. Mandate the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, to visit the affected communities and provide urgent relief materials to victims and displaced persons.

“We appeal to Mr. President to act with the urgency this disaster deserves. The suffering, hardship, and danger posed to our people can no longer be ignored,” CLO stated.

COMMENDATIONS

CLO also used the opportunity to commend patriotic individuals who have taken steps to mitigate the disaster at the community level pending federal action.

The organization specifically commended Engr. Eric Anyaneme, National Democratic Congress candidate for Idemili North and South Federal Constituency, for embarking on palliative control and containment works to prevent further expansion of the erosion sites and for tarring access road linking to the site in Obosi.

Similarly, CLO applauded Senator Victor Umeh for personally visiting the affected areas to sympathize with the victims. The organization noted his promise to draw the attention of both the Federal Government and the National Assembly to the pathetic plight of the affected communities and to push for prompt intervention.

CALL FOR COLLABORATION

CLO reaffirmed its commitment to working with all tiers of government, traditional institutions, town unions, civil society groups, and citizens to protect lives, properties, and the environment from natural disasters.

“We believe that safeguarding our environment is a collective responsibility. Government must lead, but citizens must also embrace erosion control, proper waste disposal, and tree planting to mitigate further damage,” the statement added.

CLO urged the Federal Government to treat the Anambra erosion crisis with the same urgency accorded to other national emergencies, stressing that “a stitch in time saves nine.”