On Thursday, members of the House of Representatives demanded that the federal government proclaim a state of emergency over Auchi and its surroundings in order to offer comprehensive remediation to protect the lives and property of those living in the Etsako Federal Constituency of Edo State.
The MPs issued the urgent appeal while debating a motion sponsored by Anamero Dekeri on the “Need to stem the rising cases of environmental degradation in Etsako Federal Constituency, Edo State.”
In his opening statement, Dekeri said that the Etsako Federal Constituency in Edo State was experiencing a growing rate of environmental degradation as a result of rainstorm disasters, gully erosion, and other factors. These factors were harming lives and property, including farms and agricultural output, and making some locations inaccessible.
The House is aware of the recent rainy catastrophe that hit Okpella in the Etsako East Local Government Area, washing away the bridge connecting Iddo-Okugbe with Awuyemi leading to the Federal Highway, power poles, and communication lines connecting portions of the State in the nation.
The House is also aware that there are a number of gully erosion sites in the Etsako West Local Government Area that pose a serious threat to lives and property.
The Auchi to Agenebode federal highway has been cut off by a large gully at the Ayogwiri-Ogbona axis of the road in the Ogwokhai community, Aibotse Hitage Zone, Osomeke and Oshiomhole Village, and along Aviele-Auchi Federal Highway by Osokwili Axis (Etsako West, State Constituency 1), from one side and on the other side (State
The path from the north to the south of the country is inaccessible.
“The House is cognizant of the need to stem this ugly trend of environmental degradation in Etsako Federal Constituency, Edo State,” he said.
The parliamentarians ordered the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) to restore the damaged electrical poles, wiring, and other components and reconnect the afflicted towns to the national grid in an effort to provide relief for the people.
The House also urged the Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) to act quickly and reconstruct the bridge connecting the Iddo-Okugbe Communities with the Awuyemi Community and the Ayogwiri-Ogbona axis of the Auchi to Agenebode Federal Highway so that commuters and vehicles will have immediate access to other parts of the nation.
The House also ordered the Federal Ministry of Works to pressure the contractor in charge of the road project to immediately resume work.
The lawmakers also requested the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Office of Ecological Fund to declare a state of emergency over Auchi and its environment in order to offer comprehensive remediation to protect people and property in the Etsako Federal Constituency, Edo State.
