Ebonyi community bemoans deaths, flooding from abandoned dam
Jacob Ogodo, Abakaliki
Residents of Ishiagu in Ivo local government area of Ebonyi state have lamented the incessant deaths of some of their people to flooding from the uncompleted Ivo Dam project.
Innocent Igwe, a member of the community stated this while briefing the Lawmaker representing Ohaozara, Ivo and Onicha federal constituency, Livinus Makwe, who visited the site of the abandoned project.
Mr Makwe, paid an on-the-spot visit to the dam and adjoining farmlands to witness the devastation caused by flooding which is as a result of the non completion of the dam.
Mr Igwe told the Lawmaker that four persons have drowned to the flooding in the last two months.
He gave the name of the dead as Rolland Aja Orji and Ivoke Aja, who died on December 28, 2020, Mrs. Udu Ajali, who drowned on November 15 and Cletus Ajah, who drowned on December 20.
He said the project was started on 2014 by the Federal government but abandoneed in 2015.
He said, “Anbeez Services Nigeria Limited, a company based in Enugu, was awarded the contract for the dam, but they stopped work which caused a lot of damage to our community.”
“We have called on the Ebonyi State and the Federal Government and no one has come to our rescue,” Igwe explained.
Mr Igwe also said the communities affected include Amokwe, Ngwongwo, Okwe and Ameke.
According to him, the communities which are predominantly farmers have lost their farmlands to the flood as well.
The flood, he explained, started around May and continued till December.
He explained that some of the villagers also lost their homes and their crops such as yams, ede, egusi and other crops to the flood.
“We never knew anything like flood until the federal government came with this project which they didn’t complete.”
The Lawmaker Representing Ohaozara, Ivo and Onicha federal constituency, Livinus Makwe expressed regret at the destruction and loss of lives caused by non-completion or the Ivo river dam.
Mr Makwe, after touring the dam site and the damaged farmlands promised to meet with the contractor, Messrs Anbeez Services Limited, and relevant Ministries and Agencies to find out why the project has remained uncompleted.
He also promised to work with other lawmakers from the area, especially Senator Ike Ekweremadu to ensure the project is completed.
