By NEWSCOUNT Desk
The Senate has called on the Federal Government to provide urgent relief to communities devastated by flooding and erosion, particularly in Anambra, Ebonyi and Imo States, following reports of deaths, destruction of homes and farmlands, and damage to roads and other infrastructure.
The resolutions followed motions presented during plenary by senators who drew attention to the hardship faced by residents in affected communities and called for immediate government intervention.
The Senate urged the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other relevant agencies to provide relief materials to affected families, rebuild damaged roads, restore access to communities cut off by the disasters and support farmers whose livelihoods had been destroyed.
Senator Victor Umeh, representing Anambra Central Senatorial District, raised concerns over the devastating effects of flooding and erosion in communities including Ogidi, Obosi and Awka.
Umeh drew attention to the loss of lives, displacement of residents and destruction of homes and farmlands. Among those reportedly killed was a pregnant woman, alongside a six-year-old pupil of Nnamdi Azikiwe University Primary School, Awka.
He warned that expanding erosion gullies posed serious threats to residential areas, roads and other infrastructure. One of the gullies in Ugamuma community, Obosi, was reportedly more than 60 metres deep and extended towards the Onitsha-Owerri Expressway.
The senator also expressed concern over the destruction of agricultural land, economic trees and cash crops, noting that the losses had worsened the hardship facing residents who depended on farming and other economic activities for their livelihoods.
He called for urgent federal intervention through the relevant ministries and agencies, including the Federal Ministry of Works, to assess and repair damaged roads and address the erosion menace.
Senator Anthony Ani, representing Ebonyi South Senatorial District, highlighted the impact of flash floods on communities across the state, particularly following heavy rainfall in late September 2026.
Ani said the flooding had submerged residential, commercial and agricultural areas, destroying homes, crops and livestock and leaving many families in need of assistance.
He urged NEMA to provide emergency relief to affected residents and called on the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security to assess farmers’ losses and provide appropriate support to enable them to recover from the disaster.
Senator Osita Izunaso, representing Imo West Senatorial District, also drew attention to recurring flooding and erosion in communities across his constituency, including Urualla, Obodoukwu, Osina, Abolo, Imo Chima, Imo Eshi, Ise Kenesi, Oso Obodo, Oguta Amishi, Nnefuku and Nkosi.
Izunaso said the disasters had continued to damage homes, businesses, farmlands and roads, exposing residents and road users to dangerous conditions. He recalled raising concerns about the problem in the Senate in 2023 and called for a coordinated response to address the recurring destruction.
He urged the relevant federal agencies to provide emergency assistance, rehabilitate damaged roads, improve drainage and implement lasting erosion control measures.
The Senate called for a coordinated response involving the Federal Government, emergency management agencies and relevant ministries to address the immediate needs of affected communities and prevent further destruction.
It also directed the relevant Senate committees to visit affected communities, assess the extent of the damage and submit their findings and recommendations within one month.
The exercise is expected to guide further legislative action on emergency relief, reconstruction, agricultural support and measures to tackle flooding and erosion.
The Senate expressed sympathy with families who had lost loved ones, homes and sources of livelihood, assuring affected Nigerians that their plight would receive the attention and intervention it deserved.
