Posted on April 6, 2020
Residents of Old Nekede road in Owerri West local government area of Imo state have appealed to the state government to save them from the threat of erosion emanating from the part of the bridge at the Nworie River that criss-crossed some parts of the state.
Nworie River is a tributary of Otamiri River, which runs south from Egbu past Owerri and through Nekede, Ihiagwa, Eziobodo, Olokwu Umuisi, Mgbirichi and Umuagwo to Ozuzu in Etche, in Rivers State, from where it flows to the Atlantic Ocean.
The length of the river from its source to its confluence at Emeabiam with the Uramiriukwa River is 30 kilometres.
The Otamiri is joined by the Nworie River at Nekede in Owerri, a river about 9.2 kilometres (5.7 mi) long. The Nworie River is subject to intensive human and industrial activities, and is used as a source of washing and drinking water.
The Nworie is polluted by organic wastes and because of the poor system of waste disposal, residents pour all sorts of dirt into the river.
This inefficient system of waste disposal in Owerri contributes to pollution of the river. Most of the wastes from Owerri are dumped at the Avu landfill in Owerri West on the Port Harcourt highway, which creates a high concentration of phosphate and nitrate in the Otamiri.
Also because of illegal dredging activities going on in the river, most parts are susceptible to erosion, thereby threatening residents of the community.
One of the residents, who simply identified himself as Michael, expressed fears that if adequate measures are not taken, the whole area may be submerged.
He said, “As you can see, this house is almost gone. Residents live in fear, especially as the rains are coming. And you know that the department of meteorology had predicted that Imo is among the states that will witness high flooding this year.”
Commissioner for Environment, Dr Iyke Njoku, could not be reached for his comments as his phone was not going through.
Source: dailytrust
