~Abia State House of Assembly Orders Urgent Assessment of Ravaging Environmental Crisis
The Speaker of the Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa, has expressed deep concern over a growing erosion menace in Ebem Ohafia, Ohafia Local Government Area, warning that the devastating environmental crisis is now threatening to consume the palace of the paramount ruler of Ebem Ohafia Ancient Kingdom, His Royal Majesty Ezie Ukoha Kalu Ukoha, as well as seven other vital sites.
The alarming situation came to the fore during a plenary session of the House, following a motion of urgent public importance raised by Hon. Kalu Mba Nwoke, the lawmaker representing Ohafia South Constituency. The motion was also prompted by a public alert issued by the Publicity Secretary of the Ebem Ohafia Development Union, Mr. Ifeanyi Okali.
In response, Speaker Emeruwa directed the Chairman of the House Committee on Environment—also Hon. Kalu Mba Nwoke—to lead an immediate on-the-spot assessment of the affected areas and take steps to initiate swift legislative and executive intervention.
According to Hobnob News, the erosion has already wreaked destruction across multiple locations in the community, including the rear section of the Ebem Ohafia police divisional headquarters, the Mben Hospital, and five other significant sites that are now in critical condition.
“These areas are collapsing rapidly, especially with the intensifying rainfall,” Hon. Nwoke told the Assembly. “If left unchecked, the erosion could wipe out the entire community.”
Speaker Emeruwa stressed the urgency of the crisis and tasked the House Committee on Environment to collaborate with relevant state and federal agencies, including those in charge of ecological and emergency management, to craft a detailed erosion control and mitigation plan for Ebem Ohafia and other at-risk communities.
“The safety of lives, our cultural heritage, and essential infrastructure in Ebem Ohafia is at stake,” the Speaker said. “We must act decisively to prevent a looming disaster.”
The matter has been formally referred to the Committee on Environment for further legislative review, community engagement, and site inspection—signaling the Assembly’s commitment to confronting environmental threats across Abia State.
