Landlords seek State/Federal govts intervention over erosion encroachment

Ini Billie, Uyo

Landlords in Akwa Ibom State have called on the Federal and State governments to intervene over fast encroaching gully erosion which threatens their houses.

No fewer than 150 landlords in Afaha Oku, host community to the University of Uyo and a foremost girl’s school in Akwa Ibom, Cornelia Conelly College (CCC) have called on President Bola Tinubu and Governor Umo Eno to intervene over the encroaching erosion, especially as the rains have intensified.

The landlords who gathered at the palace of Village Head of Afaha Oku, Etteidung Emmanuel Eka in Uyo Local Government Area on Thursday lamented the renewed threats, aggravated by the heavy rainfall over the weekend.

One of the affected landlords, Mr Titus Jerome Udoh, a retiree who had vacated his home, said his house, located at No8 Akpan Eton Street, off Ekpene Ntan Street, became threatened by erosion when a construction company diverted flood water from Urua Ekpa and its environs into Akpan Eton.

“I was residing at No. 8 Akpan Eton Street, Off Ikpa Road, here in Uyo, in my building, until June 2019, when I was forced out of my house as a result of 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 stated.

Another landlord, Francis Valentine Akpan, Obong Efak, Nabor Street said the people living in that axis have been entirely cut off, so members of the community had to remedy the situation.

However, Akpan explained that last weekend rain further advanced the gully to buildings, leading to terrible threats as some of the buildings are beginning to cave in.

“We planted bamboo trees as part of our remedial approaches but now the bamboos 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 appealed.

Another Landlord, Mr Andrew Udoukpo, whose house in Atiamkpat Street is threatened, said the gully erosion along Akpan Eton has continued to pose a serious threat to buildings in Atiamkpat as the volume of water emptied into the street does not permit even pedestrians to use the road during the rainy season.

Udoukpo stated that despite several visits by government officials and pledges to arrest the gully at Akpan Eton and Atiamkpat, none of those promises to bring relief to the people have been kept.

He, therefore, appealed to Governor Eno to assist the people return to their homes.

On his part, Mr Bassey Effiong Udofia, who is the Street Head of Effiong Udofia Street, said the street which hitherto was used as a diversion during the last remedial work along Ikpa Road was abandoned after the work was completed.

Udofia said the poor condition of the street has now attracted serious flood to the area and called on the state government to intervene.

While speaking, the Village Head of Afaha Oku, Eteidung Emmanuel Eka commended the Akwa Ibom State Government for ongoing efforts to tackle gully erosion issues along Ikpa and Science Park roads, regretting that the area has suffered greatly from erosion despite being host to the University of Uyo and CCC.

Eka said what started as minor issues in thickly populated areas such as Akpan Eton, Atiamkpat, Nabor, Effiong Udofia and other streets had over the years through neglect, widened into serious gully erosion sites, sacking landlords, including retirees who laboured to build houses for themselves.

“Akpan Eton street was more or less like any other street in Uyo, motorable and things were moving well. I think it was in the course of construction work done in one of those streets at Itam when water was directed towards Akpan Eton Street causing the problem.

“The whole water from Urua Ekpa and sojourning streets were channelled into Akpan Eton street with no gutters to direct the water. So gradually, erosion started coming in because the government paid deaf ears to the crying of the people. Akpan Eton Street today has turned to Eka Street, with no movement, and houses submerged.

“We appeal to the government for quick intervention because if the government does not come in very fast, more than 20 houses can go before the rain stops. Akpan Eton street, Effiong udofia street, Atiamkpat street, and Nabor, no car can move in again. People can no longer trek on those streets because erosion has damaged the streets.

“As the village head of Afaha Oku, I would approximate about 150 houses badly threatened. If there was time, I feel, the government should send in representatives from the Ministry of Environment and another department to come and witness and confirm what we are saying,” he stated.

The village head further called on the Federal Government to make provisions from the ecological funds to tackle erosion issues at the University of Uyo.

“The University of Uyo is very seriously threatened and I am sure that it is one of the things that prompted the university management to relocate to the permanent site because the town Campus is partly threatened.

“We have what we call ecological funds, that can assist in remedying the situation around the University,” he stated.