The Federal Government says it is genuinely committed to tackling myriads of ecological disaster facing many states across the country.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, made the pledge in Umuahia, Abia State, on Monday, May 21, 2018 at the inauguration of a completed Erosion and Flood Control project at Ukwudara-Amachara in Umuahia South Local Government Area of the state.
Lokpobiri said that the federal government was determined to reposition the country to ensure equity, justice and fair play.
“The present administration is committed to reposition and steer the ship of the nation back to the path of prosperity and sustainable development.”
He said that the conception and timely completion of the Ukwudara-Amachara erosion and flood control project was in line with the administration’s promise to meet the people’s needs.
The minister expressed the hope that the project would enhance the standard of living of the people of the area.
Lokpobiri noted that the intervention would help to check the risk to life and property posed by erosion and persistent flooding in the community.
He urged the people of the community to take up the responsibility of maintaining the project in order to ensure its sustainability.
He charged them to avoid indiscriminate dumping of refuse into the drains built to channel rain water out of the road.
In his speech, Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu thanked the federal government for its intervention, saying that the measure would help to preserve the environment from further degradation.
Ikpeazu, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Eme Okoro, said that the state was ravaged by erosion and flooding.
According to him, the phenomenon poses serious threat to farming and agriculture.
“With this control measure, our soil nutrients would be preserved and agriculture would thrive,” the governor said.
In his remarks, Chief Sam Onuigbo (PDP), representing Umuahia/Ikwuano Federal Constituency, expressed joy over the successful completion of the project.
Onuigbo thanked the federal government for its intervention and hoped that the Okwe-Obuohia erosion control project, which was ongoing, would be completed in record time.
He said that there were over 40 massive erosion sites within his constituency and appealed to the Federal Government to come to the aid of the state.
The traditional ruler of the community, Eze Akpunku Ihuwa, and the President-General of the area, Mr Sunday Andrew, expressed delight over the successful completion of the project.
They appealed to the government to ensure the completion of the community road which, according to them, was awarded to the Niger Delta Development Commission.
