The Senate has called for emergency Federal Government intervention in flood- and erosion-ravaged communities across Anambra, Ebonyi, Imo and other affected states following reports of deaths, displacement and widespread destruction of homes, farmlands and critical infrastructure.
The lawmakers urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to immediately provide food, medical supplies and other relief materials to affected residents, warning that the worsening disasters could trigger deeper humanitarian crises if urgent measures were not taken.
The demand followed motions moved on Wednesday by Senators Victor Umeh (Anambra Central), Anthony Ani (Ebonyi South) and Osita Izunaso (Imo West), who drew attention to the devastating impact of flooding and gully erosion on communities in their constituencies.
Presenting his motion, Umeh disclosed that at least four people, including a pregnant woman and a six-year-old child, had died following heavy rainfall that ravaged parts of Anambra Central.
He identified Ogidi, Obosi and Oko as among the communities grappling with severe environmental challenges, adding that homes, farmlands and infrastructure had suffered extensive damage.
The senator warned that expanding gullies were threatening residential areas and vital infrastructure, including sections of the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway.
He called for urgent intervention to halt further destruction, protect lives and prevent the erosion crisis from spreading to more communities.
In his contribution, Ani said flooding across Ebonyi South Senatorial District had destroyed houses, personal belongings, crops and livestock, leaving affected families struggling to recover from their losses.
He urged NEMA to provide immediate humanitarian assistance and called on the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to assess agricultural losses and support farmers whose livelihoods had been affected.
Similarly, Izunaso raised the alarm over persistent flooding and erosion in communities across Imo West Senatorial District, noting that he had previously drawn attention to the problem in 2023.
He said the disasters had damaged homes, businesses, farmlands and roads, while creating dangerous conditions for motorists and pedestrians.
Adopting the motions, the Senate urged the Federal Ministries of Works and Environment to assess damaged roads, restore affected access routes and implement sustainable measures to control flooding and erosion.
It also mandated relevant ministries and agencies to carry out assessments and provide immediate relief, alongside long-term interventions, including ecological projects in Anambra, Ebonyi, Imo and other affected states.
To ensure accountability, the chamber directed its Committees on Environment, Works, Ecology and Climate Change to conduct on-the-spot assessments of the affected communities and submit their findings within one month.
The Senate’s intervention comes as affected residents contend with the destruction of property, displacement, loss of livelihoods and growing concerns over the safety of communities threatened by flooding and advancing erosion.
