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…Kalu Calls for Urgent FG Intervention

More than 10 houses have been swallowed by massive gully erosion in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, leaving scores of people internally displaced.

In a bid to address the crisis, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, on Wednesday led officials of the Ecological Project Office including the Director, Soil and Erosion Flood Control, B’aba Bomoi to the sites in Uzuakoli and Ozuitem communities for an emergency assessment of the affected areas.

Residents say the number of destroyed homes has continue to rise weekly as the rains persist, with the streets and farmlands collapsing into widening gullies.

The erosion is also threatening the residence of the Special Assistant on State Affairs in the Office of the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Ikenna Ariwodo and many others.

Describing the situation as “a matter of urgent public importance,” Kalu called on National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and the Ecological Project Office to intervene immediately, stressing that the disaster has overwhelmed the capacity of the state government.

Speaking at the site in Uzuakoli, the Deputy Speaker who represents Bende Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives said he had much earlier in the term submitted an application to the Ecological Office through the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation when the erosion was less severe.

He explained that the erosion now spans over 4 to 5 kilometers and requires a fresh assessment and a much larger federal intervention.

He said: “I want to first thank the federal government for creating ecological funds office. It is under the presidency. I am sure the ecological funds office was created in view of issues that have affected mainly the South East, because we are the ecological headquarters or erosion headquarters of the world.

“Honestly speaking, I came here about two or three years ago, it was not this massive. When I made the application to the ecological funds office, it was not as big as this.

“To be honest, the amount I was asking for to solve this will be a far cry from what would be used in solving this. In fact, it is about twenty times over what I had projected when I laid that application two or three years ago.

“We have to do a reassessment of what this has become and find a way of giving a lasting solution to it. I know the capacity of your office to handle this,” he told the visiting team.

Kalu thanked the Ecological Office for its prompt response, noting that the visit followed a meeting held in his office with the Permanent Secretary in the project office.

“This is not what a state can do. I know many people have been saying the state government should come and intervene. I think this is beyond the state. Here, we can partner with the state, but this is a federal government project. If we really want to do it and do it well, we need the federal government presence here”, he said.

He recalled how a similar intervention was secured for Nkpa for which a bridge was later built during the Buhari administration after he moved a motion on June 13, 2019, expressing optimism that President Bola Tinubu’s government which graciously approved the establishment of the South East Development Commission (SEDC) and two tertiary institutions in Bende will do the same for Uzuakoli and Ozuitem erosion menaces.

Touring other affected areas in Ozuitem with the technical team from the Ecological Office to determine the scope of damage, Kalu lamented that the South East bears the brunt of ecological disasters in Nigeria.

He urged immediate action to prevent further loss of homes and displacement, stressing that the current situation is far worse than what was captured in the initial application.

“This is affecting mainly the South East. We are counting on the federal government, counting on Mr. President to see this as a real need of our people,” the Deputy Speaker added.

In his remarks, Director Bomoi who led the technical team of the Office bemoaned the situation, stressing that it is life threatening.

“This one is quite threatening, not only to the environment, not only to the property, even lives. And if you can look at it now the encroachment has already taken over almost the entire farmland”, he said.

It will be recalled that the women from the affected communities recently staged a mass walk, demanding urgent government intervention.

The Ecological Funds team is expected to submit its assessment report to guide federal government intervention.

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The Permanent Secretary, Special Duties, Federal Ministry of Finance, Mr. Mohammed Sanusi Danjuma, has called for deeper collaboration between government and professional institutions as Nigeria intensifies efforts to build a more resilient, competitive, and robust sustainable economy.

Speaking during a meeting with the leadership of the Nigerian Institute of Architects International Integrated Research for Development Conference Programmes (NIA IINFRADCO) in Abuja, Mr. Danjuma said the Federal Government recognises that achieving sustainable economic growth requires purposeful partnerships that harnesses professional expertise, innovation, and institutional capacity.

He noted that professional bodies have an important role to play in shaping policies, strengthening human capital, encouraging innovation, and supporting infrastructure development that delivers lasting value to Nigerians.

The Permanent Secretary described NIA IINFRADCO as a forward looking institution whose work in research, capacity development, and professional excellence aligns with the Federal Government’s drive to diversify the economy, improve productivity, and create opportunities for inclusive growth.

He stressed that the Ministry of Finance will continue to support meaningful engagement with institutions whose programmes contribute practical solutions to national development priorities.

Mr. Danjuma urged the Institute to sustain its commitment to innovation and professional development while strengthening collaboration with government and other stakeholders to unlock new opportunities for investment, enterprise, job creation, and sustainable infrastructure development.

He reaffirmed that strategic partnerships remain indispensable to building an economy that is stronger, more competitive, and better positioned to meet the aspirations of present and future generations.

Earlier, the Chairman of NIA IINFRADCO, Arc. M. B. Bello, said the Institute is committed to promoting professional excellence through research, capacity development, executive education, consultancy, and innovation to support sustainable national development.

He explained that the Institute seeks to bridge the gap between academic knowledge and professional practice while equipping architects and other built environment professionals with the skills needed to respond to emerging industry demands.

Adding that stronger collaboration between government, the private sector, academic institutions, and development partners is essential to achieving sustainable infrastructure and economic growth.

Arc. Bello noted that the Institute is positioning itself as a centre of excellence in architectural education, research, and professional development, with programmes focused on certification, policy advocacy, executive training, and consultancy to strengthen the built environment sector.

He expressed confidence that sustained collaboration with the Federal Government and other stakeholders would enhance innovation, improve infrastructure delivery, and contribute meaningfully to Nigeria’s long term economic development.

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Ex- Nigerian Minister of Finance and Sardauna of Sokoto, Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji, has died at the age of 88.

According to Daily Trust, family sources confirmed that the elder statesman died on Thursday morning at a hospital in Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, after a brief illness.

Alhaji served as Minister of National Planning and later Minister of Finance during the military administration of General Ibrahim Babangida. In 1992, he was appointed Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom after leaving the Finance Ministry. He served in London until mid-1996, when the military government of General Sani Abacha replaced him with Ambassador Uche Okeke.

A direct descendant of Shehu Usmanu Danfodiyo, Alhaji began his public service career in 1964 as an Assistant Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Finance. By 1975, he had risen to the position of Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Trade before returning to the Ministry of Finance as Permanent Secretary in 1979.

As Permanent Secretary, he managed Nigeria’s relations with external creditors and served on the country’s negotiating team for the Lomé II Agreement. His reputation for administrative competence earned him appointment as Minister of State for Budget and Planning in 1988 under the Babangida administration.

He served as Minister of Finance between 1990 and 1991, a period marked by the implementation of structural adjustment policies and Nigeria’s engagement with international financial institutions.

Following his ministerial service, he represented Nigeria as High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, where he was widely regarded for his measured diplomatic approach.

Beyond public office, Alhaji held one of Northern Nigeria’s most prestigious traditional titles.

He was turbaned Sardauna of Sokoto in 1990, succeeding to the revered title once held by the late Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Premier of Northern Nigeria who was assassinated in 1966.

As Sardauna, he was regarded as a custodian of the values and heritage of the Sokoto Caliphate.