The Nigerian Senate has called for urgent federal intervention in communities affected by severe flooding and gully erosion in Anambra, Imo, Ebonyi and neighbouring states.
The resolution followed motions sponsored by Senators Victor Umeh, Anthony Ani and Osita Izunaso, who highlighted the growing humanitarian and environmental challenges in their respective constituencies. Leading the debate, Umeh, who represents Anambra Central, raised concerns over the situation in Ogidi, Obosi and Oko, where heavy rainfall has triggered severe flooding and expanding gullies. He said the disasters had claimed at least four lives, including a pregnant woman and a six-year-old child, while forcing numerous families from their homes.
Umeh also warned that expanding gullies threatened major transport routes, including sections of the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway. He said further damage could disrupt interstate commerce and the daily activities of residents.
Senator Ani, representing Ebonyi South, described the economic consequences of flooding in his constituency, where overflowing waters have destroyed farmland, killed livestock and damaged household property. He urged the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to assess crop losses and provide urgent assistance to affected farmers. Similarly, Izunaso, who represents Imo West, warned that persistent flooding and severe gully erosion continued to endanger communities and roads across his constituency. He noted that he had previously raised concerns about the ecological challenges before the Senate in 2023.
Izunaso stressed the need for coordinated drainage construction and road rehabilitation to reduce the risks faced by motorists, pedestrians and residents.
Senate Directs NEMA to Provide Relief Materials
After deliberations, the Senate adopted the motions and directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide food, medical supplies and other relief materials to displaced residents.
It also mandated the Federal Ministries of Works and Environment to assess the affected areas, restore blocked access routes and implement long-term measures to control flooding and erosion. In addition, the Senate directed its committees on Environment, Works, Ecology, and Climate Change to conduct joint inspections of the affected communities and submit a comprehensive report within 30 days. The lawmakers observed a minute of silence in honour of those who died in the disasters.
The resolutions are intended to address immediate humanitarian needs while identifying longer-term measures to protect communities, infrastructure and livelihoods from recurring ecological threats.
