The Benue House of Assembly has urged the state government to take urgent steps to rescue Adum Community in Otukpa District of Ogbadibo Local Government Area from the devastating effects of gully erosion.

The assembly made the call after a motion of urgent public importance moved by Samuel Agada (APC/Ogbadibo) during plenary on Thursday in Makurdi.

Mr Agada told his colleagues that Adum, which is part of Ai-Oodo Ward II in Otukpa, was a community rich in agricultural produce such as yams, cassava, cashews, and palm products but had been heavily impacted by severe environmental degradation.

The lawmaker expressed concern that gully erosion had completely cut off the community from the rest of the area.

He said that the erosion forced residents to take an alternative route through Kogi State, adding an extra five kilometres just to access essential supplies and transport their farm produce to the market.

The legislator further said the erosion denied the people of Adum access to basic amenities such as healthcare, schools, and local markets.

Mr Agada warned that if urgent intervention was not provided, the situation could worsen, as rainfall from the newly constructed dual carriageway was further aggravating the erosion and threatening the community’s survival.

He, therefore, said that the Benue government, through the ministry of works, should immediately mobilise resources to grade the Adum road and restore access for the community.

The motion was seconded by Douglas Akya (APC/Makurdi South), who commended Gov. Hyacinth Alia for his ongoing efforts in addressing infrastructural challenges across constituencies.

Mr Akya expressed optimism that with the governor’s current pace, many communities would soon benefit from similar interventions.

Ruling on the matter, the Speaker, Alfred Emberga, directed the commissioner for water resources and environment to immediately conduct an on-the-spot assessment of the area.

Mr Emberga urged the ministry to collaborate with relevant agencies to find a sustainable solution to the gully erosion menace in Adum and other affected communities in Ogbadibo local government.

(NAN)