The Anambra State Governor, Prof Charles Soludo has vowed to bring under control the erosion menace threatening late former Vice President Alex Ekwueme’s Oko town in Orumba North Local Government Area of the state.
Prof Soludo dropped the comment on Friday evening at the commissioning of the Alex Ekwueme Civic Centre in Oko.
He said there was an urgent need to address the erosion menace threatening the Federal Polytechnic town, Oko, noting it as a serious issue that government must fight frontally.
The Governor also disclosed that there had been a previous town hall meeting with critical stakeholders, where the erosion threat faced by the community was discussed.
Prof Soludo visibly worried by the erosion in Oko banned of any kind of sand excavation in the town.
He noted that sand mining and uncontrolled flooding were key factors to erosion in Oko, explaining that solving it required collective action from the community, individuals, and the government.
He also formed a 25-man task force for the enforcement of the ban on sand excavation in the affected areas .
The san excavation ban also extends to three communities of Nanka, Amaokpala Awgbu, and Ekwulobia in Aguata .
The Governor said he would sign an executive order next week to enforce the ban.
“Those found guilty of contravening the prohibition will face prosecution. Trucks caught transporting excavated sand within these communities will be seized by the state government for a year upon conviction,” he said.
He noted that failure to act now could lead to the disappearance of these areas within the next 50 to 60 years.
He described the former Nigerian Vice President Dr Alex Ifeanyichukwu Ekwueme as a renowned politician, and intellectual. He the legacies of the late former Vice-president in the community touched education sector, infrastructural development, health and many others.
The Governor urged wealthy people of the area to sustain his legacies by funding projects that would promote development in the community, especially in the areas of road construction, scholarship award, health, among other things.
As a tribute to Ekwueme, he said the state government pledged to construct the PAL Brewery road, initiated by the late vice president, who was the brewery’s founder.
Chief Handel Okoli, the coordinator of Ide Memorial Group representing the Oko Community, praised Ekwueme for the substantial development he brought to the area.
He said Ekwueme was instrumental in establishing the present Federal Polytechnic, Oko, initially founded as the “Comprehensive Secondary School” and later renamed by the federal government.
Earlier, Oko Peoples Union Chairman, Comrade Luke Nweke, expressed gratitude for the completion of the Civic Centre and Governor Soludo’s support in combating the erosion.
Anambra Gov bans sand excavation in ex-VP Ekwueme’s home town ,Oko, vows to halt rampaging erosion there
