On the floor of the Kogi State House of Assembly on Thursday, the member representing Ankpa 1 state constituency, Rt. Hon. Ahmed Mohammed call on the Kogi State Govt to direct the Ministry of Environment, SEMA and NEWMAP to immediately come to the rescue of Ankpa residents over gully erosion that has taken over residents.
Below is the motion moved;
The Rt. Honourable speaker, Distinguish colleagues, for so many years, the people of Ankpa 1 constituency has been badly threatened by Erosion Menace. This problem had affected our agricultural productivity, our economic activities, our houses, schools, and places of worships.
On Monday 29th July, 2019, there was a heavy rainfall, one out of many ugly experiences, but the unfortunate story of this particular event was the flood which overtook properties, houses in many parts and at Owelle community in Ankpa, a life was lost. One late Mrs. Joy Austin, an enterprising Igbo woman who is based in Ankpa LGA lost her life to the flood.
Whereas, the Kogi State Government approved counterpart fund to Nigerian Erosion and Watershed Management Project NEWMAP, Ankpa LGA was marked as one of the major erosion crisis areas. But sadly, NEWMAP has not resume operation in any of the sites in Ankpa LGA.
We have more than 50 erosion sites in Ankpa LGA and these pose serious threats to lives and properties of the people living in these communities concerned.
PRAYERS
Be it resolved by this honourable house as follows;
That the Kogi State Government direct the ministry of environment to intervene in Gully erosion site in the following areas in Ankpa 1 constituency; Owelle – Rice mill road, COE road and Alor bridge in Ankpa local government as an emergency site.
That the Kogi state government adopt a holistic approach to tackling challenges of flood and erosion in Ankpa LGA and other local communities.
That the house invite the Coordinator of Nigerian Erosion and Watershed Management Project NEWMAP to brief the honourable members details of her projects so far and projection for the future.
A resolution will be communicated immediately to the Ministry of Environment to take proactive measures, and letter of Invitation be sent to the office of Nigerian Erosion and Watershed Management Project – NEWMAP to invite her before Honorable members. This will enable her explain details of the job so far carried on by NEWMAP.
