Community seeks Eno’s intervention over erosion

Ini Billie, Uyo

The Village Council of Afaha Oku in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State have urged Governor Umo Eno to intervene over a fast encroaching erosion menace which has already submerged about 50 houses.

In a letter signed by Afaha Oku Village Head, Eteidung Emmanuel Eka and Secretary, Supol Cosmos Ebong(rtd), and addressed to Governor Umo Eno, the community said the erosion is threatening to submerge more building.

The Village Council informed Governor Eno in the letter dated June 6, 2024, that the erosion which was remedied following  earlier reports by the community in 2019, has now become a very bad gully, sacking many landlords.

The village which is a host community of the University of Uyo appealed to the governor to award contract for the rehabilitation of the affected roads.

“We write to remind you of our earlier report to the State Government on the erosion menace affecting Afaha Oku Community in Uyo Local Government Area which has submerged some buildings and many buildings badly threatened to collapse.

“The worst affected areas are Akpan Eton Street, Nabor Street and their sojourning streets.

Akan Eton Street was motorable but today, it is condemned and turned into a very bad gully with some buildings submerged into it.

“Consequent upon the above, we had a survey of erosion site in Afaha Oku in 2019 and herewith attached is a copy of the documentary which was aired by Akwa Ibom Television and Radio, published by Pioneer and some local newspapers.

“It was the documentary that caused the then state government to approve remedial measures for the site otherwise, more houses would have been submerged and erosion worsened. Now that the rains are coming, if nothing is urgently done to control the erosion more houses are likely to go in and the gully worsened. Many Landlords have since abandoned their houses and flee the area.

“The village Council passionately appeals to Your Excellency to award contract to rehabilitate the affected roads for residents to return to their houses”, the letter stated.

A retiree and one of the affected landlords, Mr Titus Jerome Udoh, said he vacated his house located at No8 Akpan Eton Street, off Ekpene Ntan Street when I became threatened by erosion.

Udoh stated that the problem stated when a construction company diverted flood water from Urua Ekpa and its environs into Akpan Eton.

“I was forced out of my house as a result of the approaching threat of erosion, which has turned Akpan Eton Street into a ravine and the entrance of my house was badly affected. Hence, I relocated and stayed with my dependent family members in a rented apartment.

“You can imagine what life has become for me and my dependent relatives in a rented apartment for almost five years now. So please I am appealing to His Excellency, Governor Umo Eno to please, do anything within his power to restore us to our home,” he appealed.

Another landlord, Francis Valentine Akpan, Obong Efak,  Nabor Street said people in the area have been entirely cut off and the situation had to be remedied by members of the community.

He however said last weekend, rain had further advanced the gully to buildings, leading to terrible threats to some of the buildings which are beginning to cave in.

“We planted bamboo trees as part of our remedial approaches but now the bamboo are attracting snakes and other dangerous animals into our homes, we wake up to see dangerous snakes inside our homes, we need help to survive this rainy season,” he said.

Another affected landlord  in Atiamkpat Street, Mr Andrew Udoukpo said the gully erosion along Akpan Eton has continued to pose serious threat to buildings in Atiamkpat, adding that the volume of water emptied into the street does not permit even pedestrians to use the road during rainy season.

The people therefore appealed to Governor Umo Eno to assist the displaced persons return to their homes.