Guardian

MANY houses in Ezi-Oko community, situated in Oko, Orumba North Local Government Area of Anambra State are in a precarious state, as they are likely to crumble any moment from now due to the threat being posed by the erosion occasioned by an abandoned government project and the lackadaisical attitude of the contractors.

And if nothing is done urgently to checkmate the progression of the environmental degradation, the whole community stands the risk of being destroyed or swept away, as many houses that were still standing during The Guardian’s previous visits to the site have been submerged.

Trees and livestock around the area have all become victims of the attrition, which has virtually sacked and placed the residents as well as the state government in a hopeless situation.

The people of Eki-oko community, however, believe that the inclusion of Oko’s erosion as one of the communities with high risk in the government’s master plan, is likely to do more good than harm as the state and federal governments try to reclaim Nanka erosion site.

But the community is wondering why government should separate Oko community from Nanka when awarding a contract dealing with the erosion, which affects both communities in varying degrees. To them, the non-inclusion of Oko in the master plan spells doom for the project because the success in reclaiming the land is dependent on their ability to stop the erosion from Oko end.

It was gathered that when the Federal Government’s attention was brought to the site, a N1.2 billion contract was awarded to Ahino Maritime Services and Construction Ltd., based in Port Harcourt to deal with the Nanka erosion alone leaving out that of Oko. But the feeling among the people is that the contract is better not awarded than do the job piece meal.

Besides, the activities of the construction company from Nanka end of the erosion, where several caterpillars have been deployed to the site is affecting Oko adversely in that the vibrations generated by the caterpillars has led to the collapse of the weak, hanging lumps of earth, resulting in the collapse of many houses in the area.

It was also gathered that when the contract was awarded, the contractor advocated the inclusion of Oko end since the major problem was from there but nothing was done to that effect forcing the contractors to halt until a conclusive dialogue on the matter is undertaken. The company is scared that the flood that moves into the erosion from Oko would rubbish every effort being made by them and their fears have been confirmed.

Now, the contractors’ fear at the outset of the contract awarded by the Presidency, through its Ecological Office and executed by the Federal Ministry of Environment has materialised and the huge amount sunk into the project of money is likely to go down the drain.

Nanka, it seems, constitutes less threat than Oko, where over 15 houses have succumbed to the erosion, whereas not a single house has been affected by the erosion in Nanka, except for the road cut off by the erosion.

According to Rural Community Development Outreach (RCDO), a non-governmental organisation, the dreadful earth movement, which started gradually since 2008, measures 64,000 feet in length by 9,000ft in width by 4,500ft in depth. This is said to be the highest in the Southeastern zone of Nigeria.

During The Guardian’s visit to the site last year, the contractors were seen at the erosion site, trying to level the ground to reduce the rate of destruction. Then, at least two caterpillars were working but presently, no single caterpillar was in sight. The channel created by the construction company, through which they accessed the erosion site has equally been eroded.

It’s obvious the site has been abandoned with many of the equipment moved to another erosion site in Ojoto, Idemili South Local Government. Attempts to speak with the Site Manager to determine what led to the abandonment of the site proved abortive as he was mainly at Ojoto’s site.

But a source told The Guardian that work stopped due to floodwater that gushes into the site from Oko, especially through the canal built by former Vice President, Alex Ekwueme, who hails from Oko.

“You can see what is happening there. Oko’s side rubbishes our work and we have to stop. We sought for the inclusion of Oko in that contract but it wasn’t approved. May be now that work has stopped, they might consider our suggestion. We cannot do anything without that side,” said the source.

According to him, the firm is not trying to sand fill the erosion because it will be impossible. “Our mission is to level the bottom and put baskets of boulder pebbles to prevent further slide. The erosion is massive and cannot be tackled by selective attack. We have to attack them aggressively and jointly.”

The source added that the efforts being made by the Federal and State Governments to aggressively tackle the attrition, is becoming an effort in futility. “If nothing is done to incorporate Oko side into the contract, there will be absolutely nothing anyone can do because the threat is from Oko and not Nanka. We have created a new road for Amakor community in Nanka and they are saved.”

It should be recalled that in March last year, the Peter Obi administration officially flagged off the N1.2billion gully erosion remediation project at the Isiakpuenu erosion site at Amakor village in Nanka but Oko was not included.

As a result, residents of Ezi-Oko community in Oko are fleeing the area in droves after more buildings have been submerged. What is left is a huge erosion site at the two communities situated in Orumba North Local Government Area.

Also, for fear of uncertainty, the residents demolished their buildings to reduce material loss in the situation that the dreadful erosion attacks their houses. It has gone so bad that some landlords are selling detached buildings to raise money to rent apartments in unaffected parts of the community.

Most detached houses sighted last year by The Guardian have all gone. The gully erosion has swallowed houses belonging to Martins Ezeofor, Benjamin Ezeokeke, Joseph Ibekanma and Hilary Ezeokafor among others. The gradual destruction became terrible three years ago, following the neglect of the site and the activities of commercial sand-sellers at Amaokpara community.

“The situation grew worse when tipper drivers started digging sand from the shallow part of the site at Amaokpara. As a result, the flood passing through the area moved in high velocity, leading to the collapse of the hanging lumps of earth,” Patience Ezeokeke, one of the residents, whose house is threatened by the erosion said.

It was gathered that after an embargo was placed on the digging of sand at the gully in Amaokpara, the sand-sellers resorted to doing their business at night. The resultant effect is the displacement of a number of people, who have been rendered homeless.

The fear of the unknown has also forced residents of Ezi-Oko to abandon their homes at night, especially when there are signs of rain. Affected residents have adopted the habit of moving out at night and squatting with families and friends at Amaokpara for safety. They return during the day to see whether their houses are still standing.

Also at Ama-Udo community, the number of abandoned houses is growing by the day. One of the buildings deserted is a three room and a parlour apartment, which is nearing completion but has been swallowed by erosion.

Initially, abandoning his almost completed bungalow was what Cyril Ezeokeke would never have contemplated except in death. But he was left with no other choice when his wife and children relocated leaving him behind when the gully kept widening and approaching the foundation of the property. The building has completely vanished now.

Nneka Ezeokeke said the disaster is better told than witnessed. “It is a terrifying experience. When the last landslide occurred, the ground was vibrating and everybody in the area hurriedly moved to the neighbouring community until it was over.”

However, Igwe Oko, Prof. Laz Ekwueme said immediate attack on the erosion would save a lot of lives and the materials loss being experienced by his subjects. He thanked the state government for bringing the Federal Government and the World Bank into the matter.

A chemical/environmental engineer and national coordinator of RCDO, Ikenna Ezenekwe, said tree planting will help to curb the menace of erosion in the region. “We are working with Nanka Students Union (NSU) to carry out the campaign. We want to start with major erosion sites in Nanka (Anambra Central).”

Speaking on the stoppage of work at the site, Anambra State Commissioner for Environment, Hon. Sabastine Okoye said the Federal Government’s representatives came for an inspection in the company of the state governor but the representatives found fault with what the contractor was doing.

According to him, instead of tackling the problem squarely as experts, they have caused more damage to the site, which resulted in more houses going down with the slide. “They made it clear to them that such vibrations and other activities have caused more damage instead of solving the problem.”

“This notwithstanding, they have been shown what to do and how to go about it but I can’t say for sure if the FG has included Oko side in the contract because this is a Federal Government and State government project.