Gully Erosion in Lokoja

ultra-modern motor park's polls supplying electricity fell due to erosion

Residents of Mauji community, Lokoja II have called on the Federal and state Government to come to their aid and save the community from the golly erosion which poses serious threats to lives and properties.

The residents made the call when our news crew visited the erosion sites along the road.

Our correspondent Magdalene Michael reports that, the community is of high economic importance to the state capital as the ultra-modern motor park commissioned by the immediate past administration is situated there and part of the fence is submerged by the gully erosion.

Gully erosion has been recognized as one of the major global environmental problems. Many States in Nigeria like Edo, Imo and many others are currently under the threats of this phenomenal process.

The causes of erosion can either be naturally or artificially-induced, but the underlying geology and the severity of accompany surface processes play a key role.

Observations have shown clearly that gully erosion is more prevalent in sedimentary terrain than in the basement complex of Nigeria.

Erosion is one of the surface processes that sculpture the earth’s landscape and constitutes one of the global environmental problems and its activities at various scales has resulted in the loss of lives and properties almost on a yearly basis.

Soil erosion is perhaps the most serious mechanism of land degradation.

In Kogi state, local government areas like; Ankpa, Olamaboro, Idah and Dekina are currently faced by this menace.

Meanwhile, in Lokoja the community which is under serious threat from golly erosion which has eaten deep into parts of some houses has forced residents to vacate their houses and seek shelter elsewhere.

On a visit to mauji community in Lokoja II, the vice chairman, Yakubu Sadiq described the situation as very serious and requiring urgent action, calling on the kogi state Government to intervene in order to save the community from total collapse.

The deputy community leader who says they have made several appeal to past administrations to come to their aid lamented the threat posed by the menace to the surrounding environment.

Another resident, sherifat said traders were displeased with the devastation done by erosion which had destroyed part of the community and forced them to seek shelter elsewhere.

While describing the erosion site and the hazard that could occur in the community some residents described how it gradually started resulting to its present state.

 Ms Peculiar Raphael also explained to our news crew how some individuals in the community tried curbing the gully erosion.

Responding, the commissioner for environment, Rosemary Osikoya promised that the challenge will be resolved in order to find a lasting solution to it.

Speaking on the present administration’s poise to alleviate the suffering of the people, the commissioner noted that, it is one of the efforts that the Governor is making to ensure good governance is ensured.

If the erosion is not checked speedily it may consume a large chunk of the community.

Findings also revealed that some rural areas in the state are also face with the menace of gully erosion.