By Aaron Ossai
The House of Representatives has adopted a motion sponsored by the member representing Ideato North and Ideato South Federal Constituency of Imo State, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, seeking urgent special intervention by the Federal and Imo State Governments to tackle devastating flooding, gully erosion and collapsing road infrastructure threatening lives and livelihoods across Ideato communities.
The motion calls for coordinated emergency action to contain advancing erosion sites, rehabilitate damaged roads and restore critical transport links across the constituency, where more than 32 communities are reportedly affected by the worsening environmental and infrastructure crisis.
Among the communities identified in the motion are Urualla, Ozuomee-Urualla, Obodoukwu, Umumejiaku-Obodoukwu, Osina, Akokwa, Akpulu Isiokpo, Ejezie, Arondizuogu, Umuobom, Umueshi, Amanator, Isiekenesi, Umuaghobe, Umumaisiaku, Okohia and Umuchima.
The motion raises particular concern over the collapse and sinking of the Umueshi-Amanator-Isiekenesi-Dikenafai-Okwelle bypass, the risk of collapse facing the Umuobom Bridge, and the destruction of road links at Ntueke-Umueshi and Arondizuogu, which connect Ideato to Okigwe Federal Constituency and parts of Abia State.
Moving the motion, Ugochinyere warned that the situation poses a grave threat to residents, motorists and pedestrians, with washed-out roads and expanding gullies creating dangerous conditions, reportedly resulting in fatalities and leaving families displaced and communities cut off from healthcare, schools, markets and other essential services.
The lawmaker recalled that the House had, on November 1, 2023, urged the Federal Government to treat Ideato North and Ideato South as an erosion-disaster-threatened constituency.
He further noted that on June 26, 2025, the House unanimously declared the constituency an erosion and road disaster zone and directed relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies to commence urgent remedial works and provide relief to displaced persons.
The motion also acknowledged the Federal Government’s previous intervention at the Umuchima gully erosion site, which has since been taken over by the Imo State Government, as evidence of the importance of timely intervention and sustained commitment to tackling the erosion menace.
Expressing concern that the gullies continue to expand with every rainy season, Hon. Ugochinyere cautioned that further delays could lead to additional loss of lives, destruction of property and disruption of livelihoods across affected communities.
Adopting the motion, the House urged the Ecological Fund Office, the Federal Ministry of Environment and the Federal Ministry of Works, in collaboration with the Imo State Government and the Ideato North and Ideato South Local Government Councils, to commence emergency erosion-control and drainage works at identified sites, prioritising Urualla erosion sites 1, 2 and 3, Ozuomee, Obodoukwu, Isiokpo and Umueshi.
The House also urged the Federal Government to resume and complete the abandoned Urualla erosion-control project, either through renewed engagement with the World Bank or direct Federal Government funding.
In addition, the motion calls on the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and the Federal Ministry of Works to rehabilitate the collapsed Umueshi-Amanator-Isiekenesi-Dikenafai-Okwelle bypass, the Osina-Obodoukwu road and the Umuobom Bridge, while restoring road links disrupted by gullies at Ntueke-Umueshi and Arondizuogu.
The South East Development Commission (SEDC) was equally urged to include the Ideato erosion sites among its priority intervention projects, in recognition of the scale of the environmental emergency and its consequences for regional connectivity and development.
Hon. Ugochinyere stressed the need for all relevant government institutions to translate the House’s resolution into concrete action, noting that the safety of residents, protection of property and restoration of vital infrastructure require urgent and sustained attention.
He called for a coordinated response that would not only address immediate dangers but also provide lasting engineering solutions to prevent further erosion, protect communities and restore economic and social activities across Ideato North and Ideato South.
The lawmaker maintained that the people of Ideato deserve safe roads, protection from environmental disasters and effective government intervention to safeguard their lives and livelihoods.
