ALAYI-UGWUEKE, BENDE LGA – The lawmaker representing Bende North Constituency in the Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. IBEKWE Nnamdi Chimdi Oziomachi, FCIMS, today undertook an on-the-spot assessment visit to the devastating erosion site along the Alayi-Ugwueke road and the flood-ravaged communities in Ugwueke, following the heavy downpour of yesterday.
Hon. Oziomachi, who was visibly moved by the scale of the flooding, described the situation as an ecological emergency that requires prompt and coordinated government intervention.
The erosion gully along the Alayi-Ugwueke axis, which has been expanding over the past rainy season, suffered a major collapse after yesterday’s rainfall, cutting off farmlands, threatening homes and making the link road between the two sister communities impassable. In Ugwueke, several households were displaced as floodwaters submerged homes and destroyed household property, farm produce and livestock.
In Amachara Ndielu, Ugwueke, the flooding was described as quite devastating by residents, including Mrs Grace Ude and Mr Agu, who noted that they have moved their property out of their houses and packed it in neighbouring places.
Hon. Oziomachi expressed deep sympathy and assured the affected families that they are not alone.
_”I came here first as your son before I came as your lawmaker. What I have seen today breaks my heart. This is not just an Alayi or Ugwueke problem; this is a Bende North problem, and I will carry it as such.”
“I want to assure our people in Ugwueke, especially those affected by yesterday’s rain, that help is on the way. I have already documented the extent of damage with my team. First thing tomorrow, I will formally notify the Executive on the need for urgent attention.”_
The lawmaker further stated that he will engage the Abia State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and the Ministry of Works for palliative assessment and provision of relief materials for the displaced families in Ugwueke. In the same vein, efforts shall be made to reach out to the Ecological Project Office in the Presidency and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to capture the Alayi-Ugwueke erosion as a priority federal ecological project.
He urged residents to remain calm, avoid the most vulnerable sections of the gully, and keep children away from flood channels while government response is being mobilized. He also cautioned against indiscriminate dumping of refuse in waterways, which exacerbates flooding.
Responding, Abia Arise and OziomaChi youth leaders in Ugwueke, Hon. Chidiebere Anyim and Mr. Ukwu Friday, thanked Hon. Oziomachi for being the first public official to physically visit the site less than 24 hours after the disaster, describing his response as “true representation.”
“We have had erosion for years but nobody came this quickly. Oziomachi has shown that he is with us not just in Umuahia, but here with us in the field,” they said. The duo further praised His Excellency, Governor Alex Otti, for his transformational leadership in the state.
Hon. Oziomachi concluded by appealing to well-meaning sons and daughters of Bende North to complement government efforts with support for the affected families.
The visit is part of his ongoing constituency tour focused on climate resilience and rural infrastructure mapping.