The Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has expressed grave concern over the worsening ecological crisis affecting communities across Esan Land in Edo Central Senatorial District.
This follows a motion sponsored by Senator Joseph Ikpea (Edo Central), drawing urgent national attention to the alarming rate of gully erosion, flooding, deforestation, and land degradation threatening lives, livelihoods, and critical infrastructure in the region.
Esan Land—comprising Esan Central, Esan West, Esan North-East, Esan South-East, and Igueben Local Government Areas—lies within a fragile ecological zone characterised by a dissected plateau that channels heavy rainfall into deep gullies. This has significantly heightened the vulnerability of the area to severe erosion and environmental decline.
Particularly worrisome is the rapid expansion of the Ewu Gully Erosion Site in Esan Central, which has already cut off key access routes and now threatens to engulf homes and businesses. In Esan West, the Ukhun–Emaudo erosion corridor has devastated community roads and destroyed vast farmlands, undermining food security and local economies.
Equally concerning is the situation around Ambrose Alli University in Ekpoma, where persistent flooding and gully erosion have caused repeated displacement of residents and extensive damage to infrastructure. These challenges have been compounded by unchecked deforestation and rapid urbanisation, which have significantly reduced natural forest cover that once helped stabilise the soil.
The Senate notes with concern that despite several ecological assessments conducted over the years, there has been little to no visible federal intervention by relevant agencies, including the Ecological Fund Office, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and the Federal Ministry of Environment.
The continued degradation of the environment in Esan Land poses serious risks, including widespread displacement, loss of agricultural livelihoods, rising rural poverty, and increased insecurity within Edo Central and neighbouring regions.
In response, the Senate has called for immediate action. It urged the Ecological Fund Office, the Federal Ministry of Environment, and the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) to carry out urgent on-the-spot assessments and commence intervention works across the affected areas.
The Senate also called on NEMA to provide immediate relief materials and humanitarian support to impacted communities, pending long-term ecological solutions.
Furthermore, the Senate mandated its Committees on Environment and Ecology & Climate Change to engage relevant agencies to ensure the prompt release of funds for erosion control, land reclamation, and afforestation projects.
The committees are also tasked with working closely with the Edo State Government to prioritise Esan Land in upcoming national ecological intervention programmes.
The Senate reiterates its commitment to safeguarding communities, protecting the environment, and ensuring that urgent and sustainable measures are taken to address this growing ecological emergency.