The traditional ruler of Onitsha, Obi Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe, has visited the Nkisi Aroli-Obeleagu Gully Erosion site in Onitsha, for an on the spot assessment.
Igwe Achebe was accompanied by some members of his cabinet, government officials and stakeholders in Onitsha Community.
Inspecting the site, Igwe Achebe described Erosion as a natural disaster which could also be triggered by human factor and called for enforcement of environmental laws on defaulters to serve as deterrent to others.
He thanked Governor Willie Obiano for his quick interventions, noting that the fourteen affected families whose buildings were devastated by the gully erosion have received palliatives from the Onitsha Community Response Team to help cushion the effect, prior to when the State Government relief materials will arrive as promised by the Governor.
The Transition Committee Chairman for Onitsha North Local Government Area, Mr Patrick Agha-Mbah, expressed gratitude to Governor Willie Obiano for sending IDC Construction Company to stop further devastation of the menace adding that the devastated area is part of Ward eight of the Local Government.
The General Manager of IDC Construction Company handling the project, Mr Freddy Dekleyn, who disclosed that the project will be executed in two phases, stated that he was drafted to the site by the State Government through the State Ministry of Works to check the menace, adding that the three hundred metres flood diversion channel which the company has started constructing will be channeled to Nkisi Stream to help control the volume of flood.
He also informed that the diversion channel will be completed within three weeks, while the whole project will be ready within four months.
Others who spoke to journalists commended Governor Obiano for the palliative work and regretted that over twenty buildings including a Church and a School caved into the gully, calling on the Federal Government, National Assembly and the World Bank to come to their rescue.
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