The House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to urgently intervene in the severe gully erosion crisis threatening Ibolo Oraifite, Ozubulu, Nnewi, Ukpor, Unubi, Ichi, and neighbouring communities across Nnewi North, Nnewi South, and Ekwusigo Local Government Areas of Anambra State on Thursday, October 22, 2026.
Presenting a motion during Plenary, Hon. Peter Ifeanyi Uzokwe highlighted the escalating ecological disaster caused by uncontrolled floodwaters from the Nkwo-to-Nkwo road. The rapid expansion of the gully front in Ibolo Oraifite has already destroyed homes, displaced families, submerged farmlands, and severed critical local access roads.
Most critically, the expanding gully is now approximately 150 metres from the strategic Onitsha–Owerri Dual Carriageway, a vital federal arterial route facilitating commerce and interstate movement across the South-East region.
Following sustained advocacy by the Oraifite Improvement Union, a federal contract was awarded in 2014 to address the erosion permanently. However, the project was abandoned prior to completion due to inadequate funding, allowing the gully to deteriorate with every rainy season.
The affected towns are key commercial and agricultural hubs. The collapse of local interconnecting roads has crippled trade, hindered agricultural output, and restricted access to healthcare and educational facilities.Dozens of residential properties and valuable investments have been lost, leaving numerous households homeless and creating a growing humanitarian crisis.
Hon. Peter Ifeanyi Uzokwe stated that “Gully erosion remains one of Nigeria’s most devastating ecological threats. Without swift, decisive intervention, this advancing gully will cut off a major national highway, worsening economic losses and displacing more families.”
To avert further catastrophe, the House resolved to:
- Direct the Federal Ministry of Environment, Federal Ministry of Works, Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), and the Ecological Project Office to urgently conduct a comprehensive technical evaluation of the site and capture funding for sustainable erosion control in the 2027 Budget estimates.
- Call on relevant ministries and agencies to review, redesign (where necessary), and complete the abandoned 2014 erosion-control project.
- Direct the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to deploy emergency relief materials and financial support to affected households in the constituency.
- Urge all federal infrastructure and environmental authorities to accord the intervention high-priority status to safeguard lives and commercial infrastructure across Ekwusigo, Nnewi North, and Nnewi South LGAs.
- Mandate the House Committee on Environment, Works, FERMA, Ecological Funds, and Emergency and Disaster Preparedness to conduct a joint, urgent oversight visit to the affected sites and report back to the House within four (4) weeks for further legislative action.
