Group Seeks Compensation Over Flooding In Enugu Community

A group, Otobo Nsukka Cultural Zone Community Development Initiative, has written to the Federal Ministry of Works to intervene in the ecological disasters caused by improper channelling of waterways to houses of some residents of the Amalla community in Udenu Local Government Area of Enugu State.

In the letter addressed to the Federal Controller, Federal Ministry of Works, dated 25th June, 2025, the group drew the attention of the ministry to the ecological disasters the wrong channelling of the waterways had caused the affected natives. The letter was signed by the Convener of the group, Prince Onah Chibueze.

Entitled “Channelling Of Waterways To Residential Buildings on Oturkpo-Obollo Road”, the group urged the ministry to instruct the company handling the construction, China Hub, to re-route the waterways to avoid the imminent collapse of the affected buildings. It also sought to compensate “for the traumatised owners of the structures”.

The group stated that “We champion the preservation of cultural, environmental and human rights of the people within and outside Nsukka Zone of Enugu State. Our attention was drawn to the inhuman channelling of waterways to the house of one Mr Ikechukwu Odo of Umuagbadu-Umuegari Amalla, Udenu LGA, among others, by China Hub, the contractors handling the ongoing rapid dual carriageway of the federal government, which traverses the Amalla community.

“The contractor, by negligence, created these artificial ecological disasters by not conducting the impact assessment of channelling waterways to houses that are not even marked for demolition. Our further investigations revealed that the owner of one of the threatened buildings, a hitherto commercial driver but currently bedridden by stroke, has been passing through trauma since the channelling of the waterways to his house. He is visibly depressed, which has deteriorated his health condition.

“He told us that he had reached out to the site engineer with the complaint, but his danger alert was treated with levity. The attention of the traditional ruler of the community was also drawn to the looming danger, but to no avail.”

Onah stated that the occupants of the affected houses were “not only exposed to becoming refugees in their community too soon but might be victims of the collapse of the structures, which could result in fatalities.”

The group, however, commended the federal government for the ongoing dualisation of the road, spanning from Makurdi to 9th Mile. It, however, added that “But we, as environmental, cultural and human rights activists, would not fold our hands and watch innocent people made to pass through an avoidable hellfire.”

The convener of the group, in an interview with THE WHISTLER on Monday, stated that the authorities of the ministry were yet to take any proactive measures since the complaint was made to them. He said the group would use all legitimate means to redress the anomaly.

According to him, “We were told that the ministry would visit the scene when we reported the matter. But till today, nothing has happened. The victims are still facing the dangers.”

Efforts to get a response from the ministry did not yield positive results, as calls put across to it were not responded to.

Group Seeks Compensation Over Flooding In Enugu Community is first published on The Whistler Newspaper