Maduako Igbokwe Onitsha
ONITSHA, Anambra, Nigeria – House member representing Anambra East and West Federal Constituency at house of representatives, Hon. Chinedu Obidigwe has been able to influence house resolution, calling for the dredging of Omabala River in Anambra state.
Moving the motion for the dredging of the river at the floor of the house , Federal House of Representatives immediately called for the dredging of Omabala River popularly known as Anambra River.
The motion came on the heels of massive water submerging towns and local government areas in Anambra, Kogi and Enugu states as was confirmed by the metrology department of the Federal government.
In a resolution by the entire members of the Federal House of Representatives which was initiated by a motion moved by the member representing Anambra East and West Federal Constituency Chief Chinedu Obidigwe the legislature urged the federal government to include the dredging of the Anambra River in the 2021 appropriation in order to avert subsequent flooding in future.
According to Obidigwe who is also the Deputy Chairman House Committee on Environment
“The House notes that the Omabala River has depth to contain the large volume of flood which flows into Rivers and tributaries there by causing great havoc on coastal communities schools farm lands and residential buildings.
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“It has always affected Communities such as Okpunando, Ida, Odekpe, Olumbanasa, Ojo, Enoma, Ukwalla and other coastal communities across Anambra, Kogi and Enugu states.
“The dredging of Omabala River would also provide an alternative to the evaluation of oil and gas petroleum products from Anambra state which is ongoing.
The House resolves that the federal ministry of works, Housing, Water resources, and National Inland Water Ways should initiate the process of dredging Omabala River in the 2021 budget and also urge the National Emergency Management Agency NEMA to be alive to its responsibilities in providing relief materials on time to ensure that victims of flooding are given effective assistance in the advent of flood.
Already a total of 138 communities have so far been submerged by flood across the three coastal states of Anambra, Enugu and Kogi .
