The South-East Regional Office of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Enugu has been overrun by weeds and snakes, leaving staff fearful for their safety.

A visit to the office on Wednesday, located along Upper Presidential Road, Independence Layout, revealed neglected grounds, with the perimeter fence and surrounding areas choked by thick bushes, where snakes reportedly roam freely.

Staff, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the situation as “terrifying and embarrassing for a federal establishment.” One employee said, “We have killed so many snakes here. Moving around the premises means being constantly on alert. It’s not normal to come to work in a ministry and watch out for snakes instead of focusing on your job.”

The overgrowth has persisted for months, with no intervention from the Zonal Directorate or departments responsible for facility maintenance. Workers lamented that repeated internal complaints have yielded no meaningful response, leaving many to walk around with sticks or stay indoors late in the afternoon.

“This is not our duty,” one staff member emphasized. “There should be contractors handling sanitation. It’s like they’ve forgotten this place exists.”

Employees warn that unless urgent action—such as emergency clearing or a full facility rehabilitation—is taken, a serious incident is inevitable. “If nothing is done, one day you will hear that a staff member has been bitten by a snake. We are pleading for intervention,” another staffer said.

The workers are appealing to the Federal Ministry of Agriculture headquarters in Abuja, the Enugu State Government, and relevant sanitation agencies to act immediately. They stress that the office, a key administrative hub for agricultural development initiatives in the South-East, cannot continue to operate under such unsafe and unsanitary conditions.

Efforts by SaharaReporters to reach Minister of Agriculture Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar were unsuccessful at the time of reporting.