* Directs NEMA to supply meals, shelter, medical provides to victims
* Seeks reconstruction of washed-away roads, compensation for farmers
Sunday Aborisade in Abuja
The Senate on Wednesday ordered a nationwide evaluation of communities devastated by flooding and erosion, directing related federal companies to supply emergency aid to displaced residents, rebuild broken roads and assess destroyed farmlands and livestock for doable compensation.
The lawmakers additionally referred to as for pressing federal intervention in erosion-prone communities in Anambra, Ebonyi and Imo States, warning that recurring environmental disasters had claimed lives, destroyed houses and livelihoods, and minimize off communities from important companies.
As half of measures to deal with the worsening ecological disaster, the Senate mandated its Committees on Environment, Works, Ecology and Climate Change, in collaboration with different related committees, to conduct on-the-spot assessments of affected communities nationwide and submit their findings and suggestions inside one month.
The resolutions adopted three associated motions offered throughout plenary by senators representing constituencies affected by flooding and erosion, who detailed the devastating penalties of the disasters on residents, companies, agriculture and significant infrastructure.
The Senate particularly urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to right away present meals, potable water, momentary shelter, medical provides and different important aid supplies to displaced individuals and different victims of the disasters.
It additionally directed the Federal Ministry of Works and related companies to evaluate and reconstruct broken roads, restore entry to communities minimize off by flooding and erosion, and supply ample drainage infrastructure to forestall additional destruction.
The lawmakers referred to as on the Federal Ministry of Environment to conduct complete technical assessments of affected websites and implement sustainable flood and erosion management measures, together with the development, rehabilitation and enlargement of drainage and stormwater administration techniques.
They additional urged the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to evaluate the destruction of farmlands, crops and livestock in affected communities in Ebonyi State and supply emergency grants to farmers who had suffered losses.
The Senate careworn the necessity for a coordinated, long-term rehabilitation and ecological restoration programme, backed by acceptable federal funding, to deal with the recurring disasters and stop additional loss of lives and property.
The resolutions have been expanded to cowl affected communities throughout the nation, slightly than limiting federal intervention to the South-east, following issues raised by the lawmakers in regards to the widespread nature of flooding and erosion disasters.
Leading the movement on the devastation brought on by flooding and erosion in Anambra State, Senator Victor Umeh drew consideration to the loss of lives, destruction of property and disruption of financial and social actions in a number of communities.
Umeh stated at the least 4 individuals, together with a pregnant lady and a six-year-old pupil of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Primary School, Awka, had died within the disasters, whereas a number of households had been displaced and quite a few houses submerged.
He recognized Ogidi, Obosi and Awka among the many affected communities, noting that the destruction had prolonged to farmlands, financial timber, money crops, streets and different vital infrastructure.
The senator expressed specific concern over the formation of deep and increasing erosion gullies, together with one reportedly measuring greater than 60 metres in depth.
He warned that the destruction of roads and different infrastructure had disrupted entry to varsities and essential places, whereas worsening insecurity as residents deserted their houses and ancestral lands in search of safer locations to stay.
Umeh urged the Federal Government, by way of the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation and the Ecological Fund Office, to recognise the affected communities as requiring pressing nationwide intervention.
He additionally referred to as on the Federal Ministry of Works to urgently assess and reconstruct broken roads, notably the Onitsha-Ogidi-Awka federal street, the place flooding had disrupted vehicular motion and different financial actions.
Seconding the movement, Senator Anthony Ani, who represents Ebonyi South, highlighted the devastating flash floods that ravaged communities throughout his senatorial district in late September 2026.
Ani stated torrential rainfall had brought on rivers to overflow their banks, submerging residential, industrial and agricultural areas throughout affected native authorities areas.
According to him, many residents had misplaced their houses and family valuables, whereas intensive agricultural lands, crops and livestock have been destroyed, additional worsening the financial difficulties confronting affected households.
“Most of the agricultural crops were destroyed. Many livestock in the households were equally destroyed. And so their lives are put into danger,” Ani stated.
The senator referred to as for pressing humanitarian help to the affected communities, stressing that the destruction of agricultural belongings had compounded the hardship dealing with residents whose livelihoods trusted farming and livestock manufacturing.
He urged the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to evaluate the extent of the injury to farmlands and livestock and supply emergency grants to farmers who had misplaced their sources of livelihood.
Ani additionally referred to as for efficient legislative oversight to make sure that NEMA complied with the Senate’s directive to supply aid supplies to victims of the disasters.
Similarly, Senator Osita Izunaso raised the alarm over persistent flooding and erosion in communities throughout Imo West Senatorial District, warning that the scenario had continued to deteriorate regardless of an earlier movement he offered on the issue in 2023.
Izunaso listed a number of of the affected communities, together with Urualla, Obodoukwu, Osina, Abolo, Imo Chima, Imo Eshi, Ise Kenesi, Oso Obodo, Oguta Amishi, Nnefuku and Nkosi autonomous communities throughout Ideato North, Ideato South and Oguta Local Government Areas.
He stated flooding and erosion had continued to destroy houses, companies, farmlands and roads, exposing motorists and pedestrians to harmful circumstances and contributing to repeated accidents and loss of lives.
“The resulting erosion has washed away roads and also created dangerous conditions for motorists and pedestrians, with accidents and loss of life repeatedly occurring in some affected areas,” Izunaso stated.
He referred to as for emergency intervention by NEMA, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Federal Ministry of Works and different related companies to supply aid supplies, rehabilitate broken roads, enhance drainage and implement efficient erosion management measures.
The senator additionally advocated a coordinated, long-term rehabilitation and ecological restoration programme, supported by ample federal funding, to deal with the recurring environmental disasters and shield weak communities from additional destruction.
The Senate’s resolutions replicate rising issues over the humanitarian and financial penalties of flooding and erosion, notably in communities the place broken roads, destroyed agricultural belongings and displaced households have compounded current livelihood challenges.
By directing its committees to examine affected places nationwide and report inside one month, the Senate sought to determine the size of the destruction and determine the interventions required from related federal companies.
The lawmakers additionally referred to as for larger coordination amongst emergency administration companies, environmental authorities and infrastructure ministries to make sure that aid efforts have been accompanied by lasting options to the underlying ecological issues.
The Senate noticed a minute’s silence in honour of those that misplaced their lives within the flooding disasters.
