Nibo Residents Fear Losing Homes, Being Cut Off As Two Major Gully Erosion Continue Expansion, Threaten Major Road

By David Okpokwasili | IchieTimes

Residents of Umuenechi Umuanum, Nibo, Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State, have appealed to the state and federal governments for urgent intervention over advancing gully erosion threatening to destroy homes and cut off a major access road in the community.

The erosion, located along Retired Major Nwankwo Eze Road, popularly known as Ngene Agu Road, has carved a gully more than 10 feet deep, raising fears that the culvert on the road could collapse and leave residents stranded.

When Newsmen visited the area, it observed that residential buildings along the erosion corridor were exposed to the risk of collapse, while the soil within about three feet of the gully showed signs of instability, raising concerns about possible ground subsidence.

Speaking to newsmen, a Professor of Accountancy at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Emma Okoye, whose residence is close to the erosion site, said residents were living in fear as the gully continued to expand.

Professor Okoye said the rate at which the erosion was advancing had deprived them of peace of mind, as they could no longer sleep with both eyes closed for fear of losing their homes.

Acknowledging the numerous erosion sites confronting Anambra State, he said the situation in their community had reached a state of emergency, requiring immediate government intervention to prevent further destruction.

He appealed to the Anambra State Government to urgently mobilise resources to the area before the erosion causes greater damage to lives, property and the road infrastructure.

At another erosion site in Umuenechi, near Oye Nwochichi, it was observed that bamboo plants previously placed on the land to protect nearby buildings and check the erosion’s advance had been swept into the gully.

The fence of an adjoining two-storey residential building had also developed visible cracks, indicating the potential danger posed by the advancing erosion.

The caretaker of the building, Dr Christian Oli, said the erosion expanded significantly following a heavy downpour on September 22, 2026, destroying the erosion-control measures previously put in place.

Dr Oli expressed concern over the growing threat to the building and surrounding properties, appealing to both the Anambra State and Federal Governments to intervene swiftly to prevent further damage.

The residents warned that without urgent and effective erosion-control measures, the affected areas could suffer further land loss, structural damage and possible destruction of homes, while the safety of the road and its users would remain at risk.