Senate Urges Urgent Federal Intervention as Erosion Devours Communities in Edo Central

Distinguished Senator representing Edo Central Senatorial District, Joseph Ikpea, has raised alarm over what he described as “rapid and dangerous ecological degradation” threatening Esan land, calling for immediate federal intervention to prevent further destruction of lives, livelihoods, and infrastructure.

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Speaking with journalists after presenting his motion titled “Urgent Need for Immediate Federal Intervention to Address Escalating Ecological Degradation Across Esan Land in Edo Central Senatorial District,” Senator Ikpea painted a troubling picture of worsening gully erosion, flooding, and environmental collapse across communities in Esan Central, Esan West, Esan North-East, Esan South-East, and Igueben LGAs.

He explained that Esan land, situated on a dissected plateau within the tropical rainforest and derived savanna belt, is naturally prone to erosion due to heavy rainfall runoff, but said human activities have significantly worsened the situation.

According to him, major erosion sites such as the Ewu gully in Esan Central and the Ukhun–Emaudo erosion corridor in Esan West have expanded over time, cutting off access roads, destroying farmlands, and threatening both residential and commercial structures.

He also highlighted the worsening situation around the Ambrose Alli University axis in Ekpoma, where flooding and gully erosion have led to repeated disruptions, displacement of residents, and damage to critical infrastructure.

Senator Ikpea further raised concern over the depletion of forest reserves in the region, noting that unchecked logging and agricultural expansion have stripped the land of protective vegetation, leaving it more exposed to erosion and environmental collapse.

“Esan land is already under severe pressure,” he said. “Every rainy season worsens the situation. Roads are disappearing, farms are being washed away, and communities are becoming isolated.”

He warned that if urgent action is not taken, the ecological crisis could spiral into broader social consequences, including poverty and insecurity.

“When people lose their means of livelihood, especially farming, poverty becomes inevitable. And where poverty rises, insecurity follows,” he said. “Our people are farmers. If there is no land to farm, then survival itself is threatened.”

The senator lamented the lack of sustained federal response despite repeated ecological assessments over the years, saying agencies such as the Ecological Fund Office, NEMA, and the Federal Ministry of Environment had not mounted visible intervention at the affected sites.

He described the motion as a long-standing concern that had finally gained national attention and cross-party support in the Senate.

“The motion has been on for some time, but today it received overwhelming support from colleagues across regions,” he said. “This is no longer just an Edo issue; it is a national environmental challenge.”

Senator Ikpea expressed optimism that referral of the matter to relevant Senate committees would accelerate federal response and funding for intervention projects.

He urged the Ecological Fund Office, the Federal Ministry of Environment, and the Nigerian Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) to immediately carry out on-site assessments and commence remediation work in the affected communities.

He also called on the Senate Committees on Environment, Ecology and Climate Change to ensure prompt release of funds for erosion control, land reclamation, and afforestation initiatives in Edo Central.

While acknowledging that past state governments had attempted some level of intervention, Ikpea maintained that the scale of the crisis now requires a coordinated federal emergency response.

He emphasized that protecting Esan land from ecological collapse is not only about environmental preservation but also about safeguarding food security, economic stability, and social order.

With the Senate adopting the motion and referring it to committees, attention now turns to whether federal agencies will move swiftly from assessments to concrete action on the ground in Edo Central’s worsening erosion hotspots.