Edo State Government Host Engineering Design Clinic for NEWMAP’s Gully Sites: Commends FG Initiatives
The intervention by Edo State Government in the control of gully erosion in the state has moved a step further with the successful review of the engineering designs for two of the gully sites in the state, at a six-week engineering clinic for all NEWMAP approved gully sites, hosted by the State Government.The engineering clinic was led by a team of international consultants from United Nations agencies engaged by the World Bank and attended by project coordinators and engineers from the 7 NEWMAP participating states.
Speaking on the exercise, the team leader, Abdessalem Zinebi, a hydrology structural engineer explained that the objective of the clinic was to technically examine the designs made for the various gully sites in line with international standards. Zinebi disclosed that the exercise was multi-sectoral as various professionals in engineering were brought together.
In the same vein, some of the participants; Daniel Kwesi Yawson, a hydrologist; Freezer Shiferaw, a geotechnical engineer and the NEWMAP Federal Project Engineer, Victor Onyewuchi explained that designs for Queen Ede and Auchi gully sites in Edo State, amongst others, were favourably considered.
On his part, the Chairman of the Steering Committee of NEWMAP in Edo State, Mr. Clem Agba expressed satisfaction with the successful review of the designs for Queen Ede gully site and the Auchi site, which he said, had expanded to eight fingers.
Mr. Agba, who is the State Commissioner for Environment and Public Utilities, hinted that with the designs perfected, the NEWMAP project implementation stage would soon commence.
He commended the State Governor for his personal commitment to the control of gully erosion across the state, adding that a provision of Five hundred Million Naira (N500 Million) was made in the 2013 budget as counterpart funding for NEWMAP with other support from the World Bank.
Meanwhile, in line with the World Bank requirements, site committees have been inaugurated in the three approved gully sites in the state. They are Queen Ede, Auchi and Ekehuan sites.
Inaugurating the Queen Ede Site Committee, the Project Coordinator, NEWMAP, Edo State, John Adisa explained that the site committee was expected to identify local erosion problems and help to select possible solutions for inclusion in the sub-catchment pans.
Engr. Adisa charged the site committee members to liaise between the local community and all stakeholders for effective implementation of the project.
In Auchi, the NEWMAP Project Coordinator charged the site committee to participate in site monitoring and ensure the security of personnel on site when civil works commenced.
Speaking on the occasion, the Otaru of Auchi, Alhaji Aliru Momoh, Ikelebe III thanked the State Government and the World Bank for the renewed efforts to bring succor to his people through the intervention in the ravaging gully erosion.
The Otaru of Auchi expressed hope that the project would be successfully executed as several attempts by previous administrations did not yield any fruitful results.
Dan Aigbavboa
For: State Project Management Unit,
NEWMAP, Edo State
