ThankGod EMEH…
The Federal Lawmaker representing Ideato North and South Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives, Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere has reassured indigenes of Umuchima Community in Ideato South local government area of Imo state of both the federal and state governments resolve to arrest the devastating gully erosion in the community which has claimed lots of lives as well as over thirty residential buildings and shops among billions of properties in the area.
Hon. Ugochinyere gave the assurance on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, when he visited the gully erosion site to inspect the federal government-powered construction works in the area to remedy the situation while disclosing the State government plans to take over the site, noting that the people’s overall interest is to get a lasting solution to the menace irrespective of the government in question.
The dogged federal lawmaker who cheered the high level of work ongoing at the site as well as the state government’s interest in taking over the site to give the people a sense of belonging, however, expressed utmost worry that construction may slow down or hit the bricks in the long run due to change in operational intervention plans, hence he equally urged the state government to live up to the high expectations of the people.
“We decided to come to see the extent of the work, and we are so pleased that they have covered almost one kilometer in the alternative route, and from their works when the sands coming from the river burst out to Umuchima market, they will start filling the other part of the Gully. They have been able to excavate the sand to recover the whole road and waterways.
“With the speed at which they are going, they should have continued if not for the interruption that might occur by now; by December, they would have laid a temporary bridge to make the area motorable up to the market while they fill up other sides. But also, we received news that the State government is interested in the project, and this is the thing we have been praying and asking for because it is not my job as a lawmaker to get involved in project construction as I do representation and law-making. …it was because the state and federal governments abandoned it over time that we started screaming and pleading and got the attention of the Federal government to award the contract to Rock View Construction Company. Since then, the contractor has been doing fantastic work despite the unavailability of funds.
“I thank the federal government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Works, Engr. Dave Umahi who kept the promises they made to us alongside the Contractor that they would recover the Umuchima Gully Erosion site and as you can see; bursting the road up to Umuchima market is close to 30 percent completion But at the same time, we have received the news that the state government led by Governor Hope Uzodimma wants to take over the project and is also adding the road from Orlu to Orie Akokwa”
“It doesn’t matter who does it, whether the state government or the federal government because what is important to our people is that they have a right to access good roads and also have the problem of this Gully Erosion solved. Whether Governor Hope Uzodimma takes over the project to complete what they are doing now it will be commendable but I must add that before we started this advocacy; it took almost two years after the award of the project the first time under former President Buhari and
it was abandoned”
Ikenga equally decried the sufferings and yearnings of the people for change in past ugly narratives of interventions across the locality as he expressed mixed feelings about the project takeover plans, adding that past governments had played politics with the menace; hence, the people are resolute not to create rooms for excuses, failures, and disappointments.
“I’m using this opportunity to let our people know that the speed of work you are seeing here may be slowed or temporary but we pray it doesn’t become permanent because the state government said they want to take over this place and fix it”
“We have received the news and it is good news and bad news at the same time. …it is good news as it is commendable if it is done and will be bad news if after they are demobilized and we come back to the same problem.
“It was because they didn’t do what they were supposed to do that made us leave our legislative duties to start going from ministry to ministry to seek government attention which we got hence our people will not want any situation where the wonderful works which the federal government contractors are doing on-site stops: going by the intervention by the state government; …that when we come back by December, or January and nothing is happening on-site and when the rainy season comes again, it takes over Umuchima community.
The promising lawmaker lauded the management of Rockview Construction company for their good initiatives and concrete works, especially their show of commitment, had visited the site and hit the ground running on time.
He also commended the people of Umuchima for their patience, understanding, and support while urging them to keep all hope alive, having attracted the full attention of the Federal and state governments as bonafide citizens of Imo state and Nigeria at large.
“If Uzodimma fixes it, it is commendable, but at the same time, our people will not forgive if he now chases away the federal government people on grounds that you are going to do it and suddenly you do not finish it because from the day they came to site and today you can see the visible impact as one can walk inside the gully unlike before”
Speaking to newsmen, the Federal government contractor and team lead of Rockview Construction company onsite Mr Friday Okorobia said when they arrived, “there was no way one can access the gully which was initially about 26 meters wide and 38 meters high”, adding that the gully can now be accessed due to dedicated works hence the gully is currently less than 15 meters wide on a stretch bed up to a kilometer.
The Contractor who emphasized the Company’s determination to deliver noted that what is left of the sand bed to burst out at Nkwo Umuchima market is less than 100 meters which according to him is calculated to be completed in the next two weeks, stressing that the road should be accessible and motorable by all light-weight vehicles by the end of November if their works are not halted.
He thanked the Lawmaker and the people of Umuchima Community for their morale support, and confidence in them to deliver noting that “we are not here to struggle or fight with the government; if the state wants to take over, no problems, we are not battling with anybody as the glory when done irrespective of the government is for Umuchima Community.
Speaking also, the President General of Umuchima Community, Mr Nelson Okpara, while extolling the human-faced lawmaker for his critical and sensitive intervention barely a year in office as a Member of the Federal House of Representatives, decried that the community had suffered untold devastation following the gully erosion since 2019 after several calls for government intervention failed.
“We have been trying different levels of government, both the state, federal, and even the local government area when it was small since 2019 when this Gully started, but it was only Hon. Barr. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere who came to our rescue,
“We have lost a lot, over thirty buildings, farmlands and other properties of the community as well as displaced persons”
The PG also appealed to the state government to live up to the community’s expectations when she take over the project site, assuring them of the peoples support.
“We appeal to Governor Hope Uzodimma to deliver on time to save the people as the community is fastly going into extinction.
The level of havoc caused over the years, according to the youths of Umuchima who spoke to journalists, cannot be valued as different types of buildings, such as well-furnished duplexes, bungalows, shops, and parts of Nkwo Umuchima, have gone down the deep, including the home of a one-time Imo High Court Judge.
They expressed sadness over the ugly developments which have not only hampered their businesses, and movements but have killed and displaced families in the area and further threatens to cut them off power supply and network coverage as power and electricity facilities in the locality are being quaked and fallen by the gully erosion daily especially when it rains.
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