EVACUATION OF GULLY EROSION VICTIMS BEGINS IN ABA. (PHOTO).

Evacuation of gully erosion victims begins in Aba

Abia State government has commenced the evacuation of victims of gully erosion at Ovom street in Aba North Local Government Area.

The residents, whose houses and shops were swallowed by the wide-deep gully, are being relocated to new accommodation built for them by the State government.

Permanent Secretary of the State’s ministry of environment, Joy Maduka, who visited the site on Friday, lamented that the menace destroyed many houses and business centres, with many lives put in danger.

She noted that conducive accommodation has been provided for the displaced residents, saying that their evacuation would enable the State government to begin work on the gully site.

She directed the residents to move out immediately to avoid suffering more destruction.

According to the Permanent Secretary, a deadline was given to the landlords and tenants at a meeting to vacate the endangered areas to enable the State government carry out the recovery work, pointing out that the deadline had already expired.

She assured that the project would be completed before the next rainy season.

The Ovom gully site has already been barricaded by officials of Aba North Town Planning authority.

One of the victims of the erosion, Uchechi Azubuike, said previous administrations paid lip service to their plight until some houses and shops collapsed.

He appealed to the present administration in the State to do quality works to save people’s lives and property.