Senator Ikpea Joseph, representing Edo Central Senatorial District, moves motion to address ecological problem in Esan land

Kingsley Ohens reporting

In a strong legislative intervention aimed at arresting worsening environmental degradation, Senator Joseph Ikpea, representing Edo Central Senatorial District, on Wednesday moved a motion on the floor of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria calling for urgent and coordinated federal action to tackle the escalating ecological challenges across Esan land.

Presenting the motion during plenary of the 10th National Assembly, the lawmaker drew the attention of the Senate to the deteriorating environmental condition of Esan land, which comprises Esan Central, Esan West, Esan North-East, Esan South-East, and Igueben Local Government Areas. He noted that the area lies within the tropical rainforest and derived savanna ecological zone situated on a dissected plateau approximately 390 metres above sea level, a terrain which naturally channels heavy rainfall into valleys and deep gullies, thereby heightening susceptibility to erosion.

Senator Ikpea expressed grave concern over the rapid expansion of the Ewu Gully Erosion Site in Esan Central Local Government Area, warning that it has continued to widen dangerously, cutting off access roads and posing a direct threat to residential and commercial settlements. He further highlighted the Ukhun–Emaudo erosion corridor in Esan West Local Government Area, which has severely damaged community roads and vast agricultural farmlands, thereby undermining food production and rural livelihoods.

He also drew attention to the gradual depletion of forest reserves across Esan land, once home to valuable economic tree species including iroko, African walnut, obeche, and mahogany. According to him, unchecked logging activities and expanding agricultural practices have significantly reduced forest cover, leaving the soil exposed and accelerating the formation and spread of gully erosion across the region.

The senator further expressed concern over the ecological situation around the Ambrose Alli University axis in Ekpoma, where recurring flooding and erosion have reportedly led to displacement of residents and widespread damage to infrastructure. He noted that increasing urban expansion, combined with deforestation, has intensified environmental pressure in an area that previously enjoyed extensive forest cover.

He lamented the absence of visible federal intervention despite several ecological assessments conducted over the years, noting that relevant agencies such as the Ecological Fund Office, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and the Federal Ministry of Environment have not undertaken sustained intervention in the affected areas, even as the situation continues to deteriorate with each rainy season.

Senator Ikpea warned that the continued destruction of access roads, farmlands, and community infrastructure poses a serious risk of widespread displacement, deepening rural poverty, loss of livelihoods, and potential security challenges across Edo Central and adjoining regions if urgent measures are not implemented.

Consequently, he urged the Senate to call on the Ecological Fund Office, the Federal Ministry of Environment, and the Nigerian Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) to urgently conduct on-the-spot assessments and commence immediate intervention works across all identified erosion sites in Esan land. He also called on the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to provide emergency relief materials and humanitarian assistance to affected communities pending long-term ecological remediation.

The motion further mandated the Senate Committees on Environment, Ecology and Climate Change to engage relevant agencies to ensure prompt allocation and release of funds for erosion control, land reclamation, and afforestation programmes in Edo Central Senatorial District, while also directing the Committee on Ecology and Climate Change to liaise with the Ecological Fund Office, the Federal Ministry of Environment, and the Edo State Government to ensure that the erosion sites in Esan land are prioritised under subsequent national ecological intervention programmes.

The Senate is expected to consider the recommendations as part of broader national efforts to address Nigeria’s expanding ecological vulnerabilities, particularly in erosion-prone communities across the country.