LBy Sunny A. David, Awka
The Senator representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, Dr Victor Umeh, has called for urgent intervention by the Federal Government and the Anambra State Government to address the worsening erosion and flooding threatening communities in Idemili North Local Government Area.
Umeh made the call on Saturday, August 15, 2026, during an on-the-spot assessment of the erosion crisis in Obosi and Ogidi, the hometowns of former Commonwealth Secretary-General, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, and renowned novelist, Prof Chinua Achebe, respectively.
The Senator also urged the Federal Government, the Senate and the Anambra State Government to consider declaring a state of emergency on the ecological challenges confronting Anambra State.
According to him, the rapid spread of erosion is consuming the state’s already limited landmass and has reached a level beyond the capacity of the state government alone.
“Our land in Anambra is small, yet erosion is eating it up every day. This problem has gone beyond what the state government alone can handle,” Umeh said.
At Ugamuma in Obosi, the senator inspected areas where erosion had affected farmlands and roads, with several houses reportedly threatened by the expanding gully.
Residents, particularly a group of distressed women, appealed emotionally for immediate government intervention to prevent further destruction and possible loss of lives and property.
Describing the situation as a terrifying landslide and a natural disaster, Umeh said authorities must act before the erosion claims lives or destroys more homes and infrastructure.
“This is not something we should wait until lives are lost before we act. Government must intervene now to save these people, their homes, roads and farmlands,” he said.
Umeh called on the Federal Government to declare the Idemili Basin an environmental disaster zone, citing the persistent erosion and flooding affecting the area.
He promised to take the matter before the relevant authorities in Abuja, including the Presidency, the Senate and federal ecological agencies, when the National Assembly resumes from recess.
“I will take this matter to the relevant authorities in Abuja. The Senate must be made aware of what is happening here, and I will engage the Presidency and the relevant federal agencies to see how we can attract urgent intervention,” he said.
The senator also commended the NDC House of Representatives candidate for Idemili North and South Federal Constituency, Hon. Eric Anyamene, for drawing his attention to the crisis and personally funding palliative measures in the affected areas.
Umeh noted that Anyamene had tarred part of the affected road and undertaken other interventions to slow the spread of the erosion.
He, however, stressed that the magnitude of the problem required a permanent engineering solution rather than individual efforts, estimating that the ongoing palliative work alone could cost more than N500 million.
“What Eric is doing is commendable, but this is far beyond individual effort. The palliative work alone will cost over N500 million. Government must come in because what is required here is a permanent engineering solution,” he said.
Umeh further warned that Ogidi was also facing serious ecological threats and urged the authorities to act before the damage becomes irreversible.
He appealed to the Federal Government, the Senate and the Anambra State Government to collaborate on a comprehensive solution to the erosion and flooding crisis in Obosi, Ogidi and other affected parts of the state.
Speaking during the assessment, Anyamene, the President-General of Obosi, Barrister Chimezie Obi, and Chief Okey Mgbemena, who represented the traditional ruler of Obosi, His Majesty Igwe Chidubem Iweka (Eze Iweka III), thanked Umeh for responding promptly to the community’s appeal.
They commended the senator for what they described as proactive representation and his interventions in projects and programmes benefiting the community.
