The people of Ide village in Ifite quarters of Alor, Idemili South LGA of Anambra State, which is the community of former Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige, have called for intervention from Governor Chukwuma Soludo over the menace of erosion in the area.
The community sent a save-our-soul, SOS, message to the Anambra State government over the expanding gully erosion in the area, saying it is already threatening their houses and farmlands.
The Chairman of Ide Aka na-ano village, Alor, Mr. Chukwudi Johnson, said the erosion is mostly aided by activities of some members of the community who fell economic trees.
He called on the Anambra State Ministry of Environment to intervene immediately with a view to prosecuting those engaging in what he described as an ‘ecological crimes’.
Johnson said: “Our plea to government serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of ecological crimes in our community.
“It is imperative that we recognize the intrinsic value of trees and the ecosystem services they provide.
“The Anambra State government must take decisive action to protect the environment, preserve biodiversity, and safeguard the well-being of its citizens.”
A visit to the community showed that many of the community’s economic trees along the erosion site have been felled, contributing to the latest threat of erosion.
It was gathered from indigenes that the erosion channel built in 1983 by the community has collapsed, while a large percentage of the economic trees planted by the villagers along the erosion site to control it from further expansion had been felled by residents.
Alor is one of the communities where gully erosion has been causing havoc and the state government has warned that anyone found felling trees or mining sand in the state would be prosecuted.
Anambra community sends SOS to Soludo over erosion menace
