From Kenneth Udeh, Abuja
The Senate on Tuesday urged the federal government to urgently tackle the menace of flooding bedevilling communities in the Abia-North Senatorial District, which has claimed lives, destroyed properties, and damaged public and private infrastructure.
Lamenting the attendant hardships and level of destruction caused by the floods, the lawmakers also asked the Federal Ministries of Housing & Urban Development and Power to rehabilitate collapsed homes, roads, and electrical installations within the affected areas.
The resolutions were reached following a motion brought to the plenary by the Senator representing Abia North, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu.
The senators also called on the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs & Poverty Alleviation and the National Emergency Management Agency to urgently provide emergency relief to cushion the effects on victims of the affected communities in the Abia North Senatorial District.
To ascertain the extent of damages at erosion sites, the senators further implored the Ecological Fund Department of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Federal Ministry of Environment and Ecological Management to urgently provide measures for rebuilding the areas damaged by the natural disaster.
In his lead debate, the former Governor named the affected areas as Igbere, Item, Eziukwu Road (which was divided into two parts), Eze River, Nkporo Umuhu, Abriba, Okonu, Abam Ihechiowa, and other adjoining communities in Bende, Ohafia, and Arochukwu Local Government Areas.
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According to the former Abia Governor, the perennial downpours in some communities in the Senatorial District have caused severe damage.
Kalu explained the level of damage caused by the floods:
“The ugly occurrence, which came with lightning and thunder, was so severe and devastating that some precious lives were lost in the flood, critical connecting roads were completely cut off – making movement between communities impossible – farmlands were washed away and destroyed with attendant losses of crops and livestock amounting to several millions of naira.
“Some houses lost their roofs while others with weak foundations collapsed, displacing occupants and their helpless families.
“Worst hit were Okoko-Item Primary School, Okposi Primary School, a radio station, a university structure, and many other houses in Bende LGA.”
Kalu’s motion received the support of Senators Austin Akobundu (Abia Central), Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe (Abia South), Osita Izunaso (Imo West), Senator Benson Konbowei (Bayelsa Central), and a majority of other lawmakers.
Konbowei expressed worry about the willingness of the executive to act on the motion passed by the senators. He urged the Senate leadership to ensure that resolutions passed by the senators are implemented by the federal government.
“My worry is, after the resolutions, what will happen next? Because if the Executive doesn’t act on the motion we will just be talking. With the renewed hope that things should be done better, the people are asking me what shall we do? Are we prepared to respond to the needs of our people who are suffering?” he asked.
At the end of the robust contributions, the senators granted the prayers of the motion after it was put to a vote by the Deputy Senate President, Barau Jibrin, who presided over the plenary.
The senators further directed the Senate Committees on Legislative Compliance and Environment to ensure compliance and report back to the Senate within four weeks.
The senators also granted an additional prayer added by Senator Osita Izunaso, which urged the federal government to tackle flooding in Ideato North, Ideato South, and Orlu LGAs of Imo State.
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