An indigene of Umuoieghe, Amuzukwu in Umuahia North Local Government Area of Abia State Mr. Chidiebere Odum, has called on the state government to move in and stop the clearing of land that could cause erosion in the area.
Odum, who spoke while taking a cross section of journalists round the area, which also housed his building, accused the developer, Mr. Okechukwu Ndukwe, of pulling down part of his fence, just as he raised the alarm that his house may collapse if the land clearing continues.
He alleged that both the bamboo tress and palm trees planted in the “erosion prone area,” has been bulldozed, wondering what will become of the area once the rain sets in.
He said, “This place was bulldozed, following the directives of Mr. Okechukwu Ndukwe, he even bulldozed the back of my house. Umuoieghe Amuzukwu is erosion-prone area and if Abia State government did not come now to stop him, once the rainy season sets in, it will cause erosion. He has removed everything there, both the bamboo and palm trees.”
Reacting to the allegations, Ndukwe, who is a former General Manager of Abia State Estate Development Agency, ABSEDA, wondered why Odum should frustrate the development of his property in the area.
He said the job he is doing on his property was geared towards bringing infrastructural development and is never a threat to Odum’s house, contrary to his allegation.
Ndukwe, who also maintained that his focus was to develop the area, which he said was not prone to erosion, pointed out that certain factors were being taken into consideration to ensure that the area remained safe from erosion.
