|
The Edo state government has called on the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) and the officials of the World Bank / European Investment Bank (EIB) currently on a due diligence mission to rally and increase support to the state to enable the state government tackle the many faces of Erosion and Land degradation in the State.
Speaking to the mission officials at the government House on Wednesday 26thSeptember 2018, Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, ably represented by the State Deputy Governor Rt. Hon Philip Shaibu, commended the activities of NEWMAP and all the efforts of the Federal Government and funding partners; World BANK / FAO, in addressing some of the gully Erosion areas in the state. He said the “Auchi and Queen Ede (Ogbeson quaters) NEWMAP reclaimed sites has been a total success story in the state.”
While acknowledging the wonderful efforts and successes of NEWMAP in the state, the Deputy Governor outlined, through a special power point presentation, some areas of concerns which he considered very critical to the people of the state; He listed the following erosion sites as areas with life threatening situations. They are; Iguosa Gully Erosion Site; Afuze flood Erosion site; Jattu /Ogba and Igueben – Eguare/Idumogo flood gully Erosion sites.
Responding to the urgent call by the state government, Salisu Dahiru NEWMAP National Project Coordinator assured the state of the continued support of the Federal Government and that of the Hon. Minister of State for Environment Alhaji Ibrahim Usman Jibril.
Earlier in his remarks Dr. Amos Abu disclosed that the mission was in Benin to follow-up on every facet of the proposed partnership between WB and EIB in order to leverage additional funding for NEWMAP and commended the State for providing an enabling environment for the project to thrive and for the fulfillment of its obligation in the provision of N1.6Billion in counterpart funding.
He assured of the Banks partnership and t support.
Team Leader for the European Investment Bank, Mr. Jamie Barragan informed the Deputy Governor that the EIB is in the State as part of its due diligence for the proposed partnership with the World Bank and commended the government for the warm reception.
He said the EIB planned investment is about 175 Million Euros (about 200 Million USD) , earmarked for release to support development projects in Nigeria , especially additional financing to NEWMAP interventions. The Fund, according to the EIB will be disbursed between September and the end of 2018.
|
