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From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The House of Representatives has mandated the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) and Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Environment and the Ecological Fund Office to immediately fix the Mgbe/Umuezeala/Ogboko Bypass in Ideato South Local Government Area of Imo State.
The House also mandated the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other relief Agencies to immediately provide relief materials for persons displaced in Ideato South Local Government area and environs.
This followed the adoption of a motion by Ikenga Ugochinyere, member representing Ideato Federal Constituency, of Imo State, alerting the House on the effect of gully erosion along Mgbe/Umuezeala/Ogboko Bypass, in his constituency.
Ugochinyere, in his motion, expressed concern that as a result of the gully erosion, houses and landed properties situated within the precincts of the road have been completely washed off, while
many residents have fled from the area, for the fear of their lives.
According to him, “as a result of the ravaging gully erosion, which brought down the bypass, the life, livelihood and properties of many of my Constituents have been lost in the process and if nothing is urgently done to curb it, more lives, livelihood and properties of my Constituents will be lost.
“As I speak, I cannot travel home because there is no road to ply and the seemingly alternate route that runs through Enugu to Arondizuogu, is a death trap and no one dares ply through the road, for fear of insecurity.
“Mgbe/Umuezeala/Ogboko Bypass is the only route that leads to Ideato South Local Government Area of Imo State (after the failure of the Akokwa-Umuchima-Mgbe-Orlu Federal Road) and as such, its collapse amounts to a total cut of the people of Ideato South Local Government Area from the other parts of the state.”
The lawmaker, while calling for the intervention of the House, argued that
“if no urgent and immediate repair/reconstruction steps are taken to salvage the situation, more devastating damage would be done to the lives, livelihood and properties of my Constituents and this may adversely affect my access to my constituents.”
