Reps task FG on repair of Ideato Roads

From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja

The House of Representatives has charged the Federal Ministry of Works, Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and other relevant agencies to immediately commence the repair of the Umuma Isiaku–Nkwerre Road, in Ideato Federal Cyuonstituency of Imo State.

The House also implored the Ecological Fund Office to immediately carry out comprehensive erosion control works, across all affected Ideato erosion sites, especially Umuma Isiaku, Uruala, Obodoukwu, Isiokpe, Umuaghobe, Umueshi and Amanato.

Similarly, the parliament urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to deploy immediate relief support and emergency supplies to families and communities displaced by the road collapse and erosion menace.

The House mandated its Committees on Works, Environment, Niger Delta Development Commission ( NDDC) and Emergency and Disaster Preparedness to ensure compliance and report to it, within four weeks, for further legislative action.

These followed the adoption of a motion by the member representing Ideato Federal Constituency, Ikeagwuonu Ugochinyere, calling for urgent intervention on the roads and erosion sites, at Tuesday’s plenary.

Ugochinyere, in the motion informed the House that the Umuma Isiaku–Nkwerre Road, an access route connecting Ideato South Local Government Area to Nkwerre Local Government Area and other parts of Imo State, has collapsed cutting off thousands of commuters and residents.

According to him, “the road collapse has physically separated families, destroyed access to schools, markets and farmlands, and forced a total diversion of movement to distant and dangerous routes through Owerri or Okigwe before one can return home to Ideato.

“I am alarmed that this disaster is not isolated but part of a deepening ecological tragedy currently ravaging Ideato nation, including the deadly erosion sites of Uruala, Obodoukwu, Isiokpe, Umuaghobe, Umueshi and Amanato, which have swallowed farmlands, homes and public infrastructure and now the Umuma Isiaku–Nkwerre road.

“Also disturbed that with each passing rain, more lands are collapsing, more homes are becoming uninhabitable and the safety and livelihood Ideato Communities are under severe threat”.

The lawmaker decried the
delay by the relevant federal government agencies, to fix the roads despite repeated warnings and motions on the worsening ecological crisis affecting Ideato communities

He expressed worry that ” if no urgent action is taken immediately, Ideato may become completely inaccessible, with devastating humanitarian, economic and security consequences.”