Speaker of the Abia House of Assembly, Emmanuel Emeruwa has expressed concern over environmental challenges in Ebem Ohafia, Ohafia LGA of Abia State, which is threatening to swallow the palace of the paramount ruler of Ebem Ohafia Ancient kingdom, Ezie Ukoha Kalu Ukoha and seven other sites.
The Speaker mandated the Chairman of the House Committee on Environment, Kalu Mba Nwoke, to lead an on-the-spot assessment visit to the erosion sites.
The intervention followed a matter of urgent importance brought before the House by the member, Kalu Mba Nwoke, who represents Ohafia South during a plenary session and an alarm by the Publicity Secretary of Ebem Ohafia Development Union, Ifeanyi Okali.
He tasked the Committee to collaborate with relevant agencies to develop a comprehensive erosion control and intervention plan for Ebem and similar affected areas.
Presenting the troubling situation to the Abia State House of Assembly, the member representing Ohafia South constituency, Kalu Mba Nwoke raised the alarm that erosion menace in Ebem Ohafia may result in disaster unless immediate actions were taken.
Apart from the threatened palace, the Ohafia South lawmaker said that the back of the police divisional headquarters in Ebem Ohafia, Mben Hospital and five other sites have beeen destroyed by the erosion.
“These areas are collapsing rapidly especially with the intensifying rainfall, the danger is growing by the day.
“If left unchecked, the erosion could wipe out the entire community”;, Nwoke told the Abia parliament.
Meanwhile, Abia State House of Assembly has referred the matter to its committee on environment for legislative review and on-the-site assessment.
