Kogi State House of Assembly has called on the Ministry
of Environment and Natural Resources to conduct an on the spot assessment of all the Local Government Areas that have ecological challenges and thereafter propose immediate and long term measures that will prevent further erosions and destructions in the areas.
Member Representing Okene South State Constituency, Hon Eneve Yusuf Zakari, made this prayer while raising a motion of urgent public importance on the floor of the House .
He disclosed that the Okuhua Obanyi River in Okene Local Government Area has become a source of severe ecological challenges and caused significant degradation in the affected communities.
He added that it was a known fact that the river which originates from Onchiehe causes wide spread damages through the neighbouring communities to Adavi Eba in Adavi Local Government Area.
The legislator pointed out that the river has already brought down houses and infrastructures such as the fence of Selfudeen LSMB Primary School Egeze just as it has eroded more than a quarter of the landmass of the school .
Zakari said if urgent interventions were not forthcoming before the next raining season, the river would cause more destructions, deaths and loss of properties.
Against the above background and in a bid to safe lives and properties, Hon Zakari therefore prayed the House to call on the state government to urgently deploy resources and expertise to address the ecological challenges posed by Okuhua Obanyi River in the Abuga/Ozuja Ward of Okene Local Government Area .
He also prayed that the government should recommend the construction of erosion control measures which would halt the degradation caused by the river.
Besides the above ,he urged the state government to provide relief and support for the affected communities as well as requested for encouraged collaboration between the state and federal governments including the ecological fund office so as to mobilize resources to address the ecological challenge.
The Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon Mrs Comfort Ojoma Nwuchiola Egwaba thanked the mover of the motion and submitted that one of the prayers should be amended to include all the LGAs that have ecological challenges, pointing out that an injury to one is an injury to all.
Also Hon Otokiti Zakariaya who represents Okehi state constituency seconded the motion .
The Speaker directed the Clerk of the House to convey the House resolution to the state government