Massive environmental degradation has been the subject of heightenedconcern across southeast Nigeria as the region continues to be plaguedby an erosion crisis that has grown worse over the years.

Drivingaround southeast Nigeria, examples of soil erosion at its worst are acommon sight. Deep gullies, washed away homes, bridges and roads arehard to ignore. Anambra is easily the worst affected state in theregion. The state's environment commissioner Michael Egbebike speaks toVOA.

"The nature of the soil we have in the state, climaticconditions make Anambra one of the worst hit areas when it comes toerosion," he said. "It is on record that we have more than 1,000erosion sites in the state, more than 500 are active. I should callthis a major disaster in Anambra state, and that is what we are dealingwith here."

Residents say the 50-year-old problem has grownworse because the authorities failed to make repairs when theirattention was drawn to it at the onset. Several other factors havecombined to amplify the severity of the erosion. According toEnvironment Commissioner Egbebike, local residents have alsocontributed to the problem.

"Some of the problem of erosion iscreated by our people, by our attitude to waste disposal," he said."When we dump garbage in the drains that are built by government wesimply aggravate the problem of erosion. And this waste combined withthe force of the flood and trying to erode the soil and sometimes theyactually block the channel that has been created for flood dispersionand the floods come back and actually destroy their homes, and at thatpoint they call on government."

Idiani, a small community inAnambra state, has seen enormous damage to its homes, crops andinfrastructure. The villagers also risk being swept to their death byflood water during the rainy season. Village head Harrison Okoyedescribes the devastating effects of gully erosion.

"My villageTown Hall built with a huge sum of money has been swallowed," he said."And a lot of economic trees gone. The Anglican Church is on the vergeof going. One man from Egboku after going to wedding, seeing the volumeof water, he stopped his car to see the depth so that he will know howto pass. As soon as he stepped down, he was swept off to the streamdown there and that was the end of the man."

Environmentalistswarn once it takes hold, it becomes a losing battle to reverselandslides and degradation. In neighboring Abatete residents, includingEfobi Okeke, are not giving up on their homes and community.

"Usuallyyou cannot fold your arms and get your house being carried away intothe gullies," he said. "So people are making efforts on their own butthe situation is such that individuals cannot handle alone."

Arecent geological study of the environmental degradation in Anambrareported it will cost about $2 billion to address the gully erosionproblem in the area. Environment Commissioner Ebgebike says funding iscritical and appeals for international help to deal with the situation.

"Wehave a shortage of resources," he said. "The state is strugglingbecause the monies spent on this erosion problem are huge sums ofmoney. So we will of course need a lot of help from the internationalcommunity and the federal government. Alone it would be a Herculeantask for Anambra state."

In the meantime, Abatete and Idianiresidents, like others across the southeast, are clinging to the lastof their homes, even as erosion continues its unstoppable conquestacross the region.