Awka – Severe gully erosion has wreaked havoc on the Ekwulumili community in Nnewi South Local Government Area of Anambra State, destroying at least 15 houses and large swathes of farmland.
Residents are now appealing to the state government for urgent intervention to halt the ongoing devastation, which continues to threaten their homes, livelihoods, and safety.
The erosion has also cut off several major roads, further isolating the community. One of the most alarming erosion sites is located just 50 metres from the Oba–Nnewi–Uga–Okigwe expressway, a vital route for commuters traveling through the region.
The collapse of this expressway could significantly impact the movement of people and goods, worsening the already precarious situation.
For over three decades, the residents of Ekwulumili have called on successive governments to address the erosion problem, but they claim no substantial action has been taken.
Despite repeated pleas, the gully erosion continues to advance, devastating more homes and farmland with each passing rainy season.
In response, the community has resorted to self-help measures, including the construction of concrete reinforcements and tree planting efforts aimed at slowing the erosion. Unfortunately, these efforts have proven insufficient, as the situation worsens with every rainfall.
Mr. Chinedu Anyaso, a community leader and chairman of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN) at the Enugu Depot, expressed his deep concern about the erosion’s impact on local residents.
Many families, he said, have been forced to abandon their ancestral homes as the erosion steadily encroaches on the community. The villages of Umudim, Urueze, and Isigwu have been identified as the most severely affected.
“The erosion is primarily caused by floodwaters from upland communities such as Igboukwu and Oraeri, combined with unchecked human activities,” Anyaso explained.
“The road linking Ekwulumili to Amichi through Ugwuochi has been completely cut off, severely limiting access to economic and social opportunities for residents.”
The community leader called on Governor Chukwuma Soludo to declare a state of emergency in the affected area, urging both the state and federal governments, as well as international organizations, to step in and offer support.
The situation has reached a critical point, with the erosion now threatening the federal road, which is at risk of total collapse.
“We have already lost about 15 houses, many families are displaced, and countless economic trees and farmlands have been destroyed. The federal road here is at risk of total collapse,” Anyaso warned.
Chief Clement Ezeifedikwa, a former President General of the community, also voiced his frustration.
He noted that despite multiple visits from government officials who had offered assurances, no concrete action had followed. This lack of follow-through has left the community in a state of uncertainty and despair, with residents fearing that the worst is yet to come.
As the erosion continues to devastate the area, the residents of Ekwulumili hope that their repeated calls for government intervention will finally be answered. They are in urgent need of support to prevent further damage and safeguard their homes and livelihoods.
