The House of Representatives has issued a strong directive for immediate emergency action to address a major road collapse and a severe ecological crisis in Imo State. Lawmakers have called on multiple federal agencies to mobilize without delay.
Federal Agencies Directed to Mobilize
During its plenary session on Tuesday, the House adopted a motion that compels key government bodies to act. The Federal Ministries of Works and Environment, the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA), the Ecological Fund Office, and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) have been instructed to immediately deploy contractors to the site. Their mandate is to carry out emergency remedial works on the vital but collapsed Umuma Isiaku–Nkwerre Road.
Furthermore, the House has tasked the Ecological Fund Office with a critical additional duty. It must urgently allocate resources for comprehensive erosion control measures. These interventions are needed across all the severely affected sites in the Ideato region, which include Uruala, Obodoukwu, Isiokpe, Umuaghobe, Umueshi, and Amanato, alongside Umuma Isiaku.
A Constituency in Crisis
The resolution was spurred by a motion sponsored by Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere, who represents the Ideato North/South federal constituency. He painted a dire picture of the situation, grounding his appeal in Section 14(2)(b) of the Nigerian Constitution, which places the security and welfare of the people as the primary purpose of government.
Ugochinyere described the Umuma Isiaku–Nkwerre Road as a critical artery connecting Ideato South Local Government Area to Nkwerre LGA and other parts of Imo State. The collapse, which occurred near St. Andrews Catholic Church in Umuma Isiaku, has stranded thousands of daily commuters and residents, severing access completely.
Severe Humanitarian and Economic Impact
The lawmaker lamented the broader devastation caused by erosion in Ideato, which has consumed farmlands, homes, and public infrastructure. He expressed deep concern that the road collapse has physically separated families and destroyed access to essential services.
“Disturbed that the road collapse has physically separated families, destroyed access to schools, markets, and farmlands, and forced total diversion to distant, dangerous routes through Owerri or Okigwe,” Ugochinyere stated. He warned of potentially devastating humanitarian, economic, and security consequences if the communities become completely cut off due to government inaction.
In response to this urgent humanitarian need, the House also directed the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide immediate relief materials and emergency supplies to all families and communities displaced or isolated by the road failure and the ongoing erosion.
Ensuring Compliance and Accountability
Expressing frustration over the delayed response from federal agencies despite previous warnings, the House has put a strict monitoring mechanism in place. The Committees on Works, Environment, NDDC, and Emergency and Disaster Preparedness have been mandated to ensure all the directives are fully complied with.
These committees are required to report back to the House within four weeks on the progress made, paving the way for further legislative action if necessary. This move highlights the growing anxiety among federal lawmakers regarding the vulnerability of Nigeria's infrastructure and the pressing need to shield communities from ecological disasters.
