Oro Ibere Community Urges Gov. Otti To Order Independent Assessment Of Iyalu-Iberenta Erosion Project

The people of Oro Autonomous Community in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State has appealed to the State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, to order an independent technical assessment of the Iyalu-Iberenta erosion intervention project, following concerns over the current condition of the site.

The appeal was contained in an open letter to the Governor signed by a renowned Filmmaker and Sportspreneur Prince Pascal Atuma on behalf of the community.

Prince Atuma who expressed appreciation to Governor Otti for his administration’s intervention in the erosion crisis, noted that the Governor’s initial directive to address the ecological threat raised hopes among residents of the affected community.

He expressed concern over what he described as the deplorable and unsatisfactory state of the project, particularly following the onset of heavy rains, stressing that the intervention, which was expected to provide lasting relief to residents threatened by the erosion, was allegedly left incomplete and structurally inadequate.

Prince Atuma further alleged that despite claims made that the project had been completed, the present condition of the site suggested otherwise, with the erosion reportedly worsening and posing renewed danger to the community.

The community leader also raised concerns over what he described as an information gap between the situation on the ground and reports reaching the Governor’s office being created by certain individuals to protect private interests and thereby preventing the true state of the project from being properly communicated to the Governor.

He, however, called for an impartial investigation rather than relying on competing accounts, appealing to the Governor to dispatch independent engineers to physically inspect the site and submit their findings directly to the State Government.

Prince Atuma also requested a comprehensive audit of the funds allocated to the project, as well as an investigation into its execution, to establish whether public resources were properly utilized.

The community further appealed to the Governor to urgently reassign the ecological intervention to qualified professionals capable of delivering a durable solution and preventing further destruction of homes, farmlands and other community assets.

Prince Atuma in the letter recalled that the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, had reportedly indicated an interest in intervening at the site, but alleged that the process was delayed by requests for extensions by those handling the existing intervention.

He also referenced an earlier report by the Mayor of Ikwuano, Dr. Anthony Nwaubani, which, according to him, accurately reflected the condition of the erosion site.

The letter reaffirmed the support of Oro Autonomous Community for Governor Otti’s administration, stressing that its appeal was motivated by the urgent need to protect lives, property and public resources while expressing confidence that the Governor, known for accountability and transparency, would cause the situation to be independently verified and appropriate action based on the findings.

His Excellency,

Dr. Alex Otti

Executive Governor of Abia State,

Government House, Umuahia.

RE: APPRECIATION, DEEP CONCERN, AND A CALL FOR AN INDEPENDENT ASSESSMENT OF THE IYALU-IBERENTA EROSION PROJECT

His Excellency,

On behalf of the good people of Oro Autonomous Community, I write to express our profound gratitude for your visionary leadership and your prompt decision to intervene in the devastating Iyalu-Iberenta erosion crisis. Your initial directive to address this site demonstrated the empathy and proactive governance that have earned you the deep admiration of Abians at home and in the diaspora.

However, it is with heavy hearts and profound dissatisfaction that we must bring the reality on the ground to your urgent attention. The team entrusted with this critical project—led by the Deputy Mayor of Ikwuano, Mr. Lucky Awuwa, in collaboration with officials from the Ministry of Environment—has failed the community and misrepresented the truth to your office. Contrary to their claims that the project has been successfully completed, the work was left undone, structurally unsound, and grossly substandard.

With the onset of the heavy rains, the ineptitude of this handling has been laid bare. The botched intervention has exacerbated the ecological damage, causing further severe degradation and placing our community in far greater danger than before the project commenced.

This situation represents a painful waste of public resources. Had these funds been funnelled to capable, qualified engineering professionals, they would have permanently resolved this menace—sparing our people immense suffering and lifting a significant burden off your administration. Regrettably, even when the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) sought to step in and offer a lasting solution, this team refused to vacate the site, repeatedly requesting extensions only to deliver no meaningful result.

We are fully aware that significant energy and deliberate efforts are being expended by certain individuals to shield the truth from your office and protect private interests at the expense of public safety. The report previously submitted by the Mayor of Ikwuano, Dr. Anthony Nwaubani, reflected the true, unvarnished state of the site, and we stand by his accurate assessment.

We respectfully urge Your Excellency to take the following immediate actions:

1. **Dispatch an Independent Assessment Team:** Send an uncompromised, technical team of independent engineers to inspect the Iyalu-Iberenta site and report their findings directly to you.

2. **Audit and Accountability:** Direct a thorough investigation into the management and utilization of the funds allocated for this project to ensure complete financial and professional accountability.

3. **Emergency Remediation:** Re-assign this critical ecological intervention to competent experts capable of securing our land and safeguarding lives before the erosion claims further territory.

We remain steadfast in our support of your administration’s progressive agenda and trust in your unyielding commitment to justice, transparency, and the well-being of the people of Abia State.

Yours faithfully,

Prince Pascal Atuma

For and on behalf of Oro Autonomous Community

Toronto, Canada