Over 20 Villages in Imo under Threat of Erosion

World Bank

* As World Bank, NEWMAP carry Inspection of Erosion Sites

By Amby Uneze

More than 20 villages in Imo state may be wiped out by erosion menace, a survey carried out recently by the World Bank, Nigeria Erosion Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP), and Federal Agricultural Organization (FAO) revealed.

Some of the gully erosion sites visited include the Ihioma gully erosion in Orlu Local Government Area, Umueshi gully erosion in Ideato South Local Government Area and Urualla gully erosion in Ideato North Local Government.

In Ihioma gully erosion that cut across more than three villages, Iyi Uzo, Ogberuru, Obizi, Udoma, the erosion had in recent times cut off communities from engaging in their normal activities.

Welcoming the inspection team led by the project coordinator of NEWMAP in the state, Engr. Victor Anueyiagu. at the Ihioma erosion site, the contractor, Engr. Shauibu Adodo of Zarcus Construction limited, said that the 4 kilometre erosion site traversed five communities.

He added that so far, the volume of work done was 62 percent, and that despite the increasing challenges confronting them in the course of their work, they were still working with the specifications, including the construction of culverts as it was in the original plan.

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