BENIN CITY-The Edo State House of Assembly has assured residents of Idumwowina Community in Ovia North East Local Government, that the state government would urgently come to their aid in order to forestall further flood induced destruction of their properties and avert lose of lives.
The Chairman of the House Committee on Works and Public Utilities, Hon. Festus Edughele gave the assurance at Idumwowina when members of the committee, officials of the state Rapid Response Agency and staff of the state Ministries of Works and Environment visited the community for an on the spot assessment of the gully erosions site in the community.
Hon. Edughele said the visit to the site was in response to a petition to the residents.
According to him, the committee was overwhelmed by the level of devastation on the community by erosion, noting that as tax payers, the state government would ensure that their lives and properties are protected.
He said that the committee would make appropriate recommendations to the House where relevant government agencies would be directed to urgently carry out palliative on the gully.
Also speaking, Deputy leader of the House and member of the committee, Hon. Sunday Osazewinde said the gully is so deep and has caused several vehicular accidents.
Hon. Osazewinde noted that since the gullies are close to house, if urgent steps are not taking, most of the houses would collapse, assuring that the state government would urgently come to their aid.
A resident of the community, Rev. Friday Atamewan and the president of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) Cooperative Society, Mr. Franklyn Omernai appealed to the state government to come to the aid of the people and carry out work on the gully which is posing great threat to their lives and properties.
Also, residents of Okokhuo Community in Ovia North East Local Government Area have appealed to the state government to urgently come to their aid as the community is about to be completely taking over by gully.
Some of the residents who spoke with newsmen said the gully which started about 10 years ago has wrecked havoc on the community; leading to the lose of lives and properties.
They noted that the agrarian community could no longer achieve its full potential as the only accessible road to their farms has been completely cut off by the gully besides taken over the only secondary school and market in the community.
While applauding the efforts of the state Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole’s led administration in tackling the menance of gully erosion across the state, they expressed hope that similarly measures would be replicated in their community.
