Government Inaction Puts Enugu Farmers At Risk

Government Inaction Puts Enugu Farmers At Risk

Farmers in the Mpu and Okpanku communities of Aninri Local Government Area in Enugu State are facing significant dangers due to the abandoned Ivo River Dam. Originally initiated in 2012 under former Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, the project was intended to enhance agricultural productivity, fishery, and electricity generation for local communities. However, the dam was never completed, lacking essential spillways, which has led to disastrous flooding during heavy rainfall…….CONTINUE READING

As a result, farmland is inundated, destroying crops and threatening the livelihoods of the local population, including those in surrounding areas of Ebonyi State.

Mazi Chukwu Ogbonnaya, a farmer in his sixties, has become a local refugee after floods ravaged his farm—his sole source of income. “I have nothing to do. If death wants to come, let it come,” he lamented. With nine children to feed, he faces dire circumstances after floods wiped out his cassava and rice crops over a three-month period.

Similarly, Francis Okorie, another farmer from Mpu, has seen his rice plantation completely destroyed by floodwaters. “Everything I planted here; this dam finished it. Nothing is remaining,” he expressed in frustration, emphasizing the urgent need for government intervention as hunger spreads in the area.

Charles Iregbu, a resident of Obeagu Mpu, echoed these sentiments, noting that the dam was meant to support year-round farming. “For the past three months, it has been so. We are living in hunger. The flood has destroyed all our plants,” he stated. The ongoing flooding has severely affected the community’s agricultural output, leaving families with limited resources.

Mrs. Augustina Okorie, who has also lost her rice plantation, called for government assistance, stating, “If there is any help we can get from the government, let them help. It has been happening like this over the years.”

**Community Stakeholders Call for Action**

Cyprian Ajah, a local farmer and writer, lamented the stalled project, which he believes could have significantly boosted the local economy. “This is a project that would have boosted our economy in various ways. It would have served as a source of irrigation during the dry season, ensuring food availability,” he noted, urging both federal and state governments to complete the dam.

Clement Omeh, a youth leader from Mpu, expressed disappointment over the abandoned project, which was initially awarded to an Israeli company before being handed to a local contractor. “Our people are known for agriculture, yet this failed dam is causing us grief,” he stated.

The indigenous contractor, Ambeez Services Nigeria Limited, has remained unresponsive to inquiries regarding the project. Eng. Anayo Onwuegbu, the contractor’s founder and a federal lawmaker, previously commented on criticisms but has not addressed recent concerns from local residents.

The Federal Ministry of Water Resources has also not provided clarity on the situation, despite promises to do so. Attempts to engage with the ministry resulted in requests for written questions, but no responses have been forthcoming.

**State Government’s Response and Future Prospects**

Engr. Gerald Otigi, Enugu State’s Commissioner for Works, noted that while the project belongs to the federal government, there are processes for potential state intervention. He encouraged affected residents to formally communicate their concerns to the state government.

In response to the ongoing crisis, Patrick Ubru, the state Commissioner for Agriculture, acknowledged the plight of the farmers. He stated that the state government is working to rehabilitate the dam and has begun distributing palliatives to the flood victims.

In January 2023, the House of Representatives urged the Ministry of Water Resources to complete the Ivo River Dam, which was originally awarded for N4.5 billion. Lawmaker Makwe Makwe highlighted the disastrous impact of the dam’s abandonment, reporting that over 40,000 acres of farmland and numerous households have been severely affected by flooding, calling for immediate action to prevent further devastation.

This report was produced with the support of Civic Media Lab.

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