BY SAM ERHUNMWUNSEE OF RADIO NIGERIA ASABA.
Gullies are landforms created by erosion from running water, typically on hillsides or in floodplains, and are characterized by deep, and wide channels.
In Edo and Delta States, there are many gullies especially in Edo South, Edo North and Delta North.
For years, these two states of Edo and Delta States have been contending with gullies which pose great danger to inhabitants in the areas affected.
In Edo South, there are gullies at Iwogban , Queen Eden, Ikpoba Slope and Asoro areas of Benin City, and more devastating gullies in Edo North Auchi area of the state, notably at Ikabigbo , and Jatu Road.
Some other areas in Edo State with gullies include Iguo-Osaigie, Utteh, Iguo-Hana, Iguo-Efosa, Oke-Okehn, Okun-Magiajemen communities in Uhunmwonde Local Government Area of the state.
There are also gullies in Edo Central part of the state, particularly in Uromi, Ewu , and Ewohimi.
In Delta North, there are worsening gullies in the Ogbeozoma New Layout and Amachai areas of Okpanam as well as in Igbuzor, Illah, and Agbor.
Other gully worst hit areas in Delta North include Adonte, Ewulu and Ashama in Aniocha South Local Government Area, Obomkpa and Ukwunzu in Aniocha North local government area ,and Agbor in Ika South, and several areas in Ika North East local government area.
The sites of some of the gullies are horrifying and frightening to behold by both residents and visitors.
It’s saddening that hundreds of lives have been lost to gullies in Edo and Delta States, apart from many residential, commercial buildings and worship centres that have been swallowed by the gullies.
More worrisome is the loss of agricultural lands lost to these gullies which have continued to be ecological disasters.
It is pertinent to note that gullies are caused by a combination of natural and human-induced factors. Natural factors include intense rainfall, soil type ,particularly erodible soils, and topography which has to do with slope and length.
On the other hand, human activities like deforestation, poor agricultural practices, and improper land management worsen these natural processes, leading to gullies.
It is noteworthy that a number of the gullies in Edo and Delta States have received federal and state governments intervention, as well as that of the World Bank.
For instance, in Delta State, the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) , a World Bank assisted Project,is addressing gullies in Obamkpa, Okwuzu, and Ika axis of the state with the payment of counterpart funds by Federal Government and the Delta State Government among other areas, as part of broader efforts to combat erosion and land degradation in the country.
Just few months ago, the administration of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori was said to have paid one point three billion naira counterpart fund, for the execution of the Amachai , Ogbozoma and Vanguard area gullies gully project to forestal further loss of lives and buildings to the devastating gullies.
Similarly, past and present governments in Edo State and its development partners have intervened in gully sites in various parts of the state , including Uteh–Iwogban, Queen Eden, Asoro, Edo college , to measure just a few ,through reclamation and remediation projects.
Remediation work was said to have been done at the gully at Auchi during the administration of Adams Oshiomhole as the then governor of Edo State and some other parts of the state but a lot needed to be done by the Federal Government, as well as the Edo State Government , at the Jatu side of the gully to forestal further expansion and disaster.
The lawmaker representing Oshimili North, Frank Esenwah, recently expressed concern over the gullies ravaging many areas areas of Oshimili North, including his own abandoned house in Illah during an assessment tour of gully sites ravaging his constituency.
Recently, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Doctor Samuel Ogbuku at a world press conference in Asaba, said the commission’s attention had been drawn to the gullies in Edo State, and some other states in the region, and that it would liaise with state governments with a view to intervening to combat the gullies from causing more havocs.
This is worthy of commendation as the synergy will help in saving lives of residents living near gully sites.
There is the compelling need for the Federal Government to ensure timely approval and release of ecological funds for execution of remediation and reclamation work on gully sites.
Contractors handling gully sites reclamation projects should deliver the work according to specifications.
People should refrain from building near gully sites, or areas prone to gullies to avoid loss of lives and buildings.
There is the dire need for relevant government agencies to intensify awareness and sensitization campaigns on the danger associated with gully sites, especially where such gullies are expanding to major roads.
The time to act is now , rather than waiting for disaster to occur before running helter skelter.
THAT NEWS COMMENTARY ON COMBATING DEVASTATING GULLIES IN EDO AND DELTA STATES WAS WRITTEN BY SAM ERHUNMWUNSEE OF RADIO NIGERIA ASABA.
