The World Bank and the Special Climate Change Fund(SCCF) is to assist the Government of Anambra State to address the incessant flooding in Onitsha with an Onitsha Storm water Master plan, under the programme of the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project(NEWMAP).
This was disclosed today at a meeting between the Honourable Commissioner for Environment, Princess Chinwe Nwaebili and the Joint World Bank/ Food and Agricultural Organization and the Federal Government Supervision team currently ongoing in the State
Receiving the team on a courtesy call to her office, Princess Nwaebili expressed happiness with the visit and stated that the visit came at a time the State was in dire need of help especially in the area of Erosion and Flood. She appreciated the effort of the World Bank in the State and urged the Bank to come to its aids in solving this deadly scourge. She appealed to the team to also expedite action in the Onitsha Storm water master plan assuring that the present Administration of Governor Willie Obiano was ready and willing to partner with the Bank in ensuring that the issue of Erosion and flooding is tackled and solved.
In his response, the Task Team leader for the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) Dr.Amos Abu informed the Hon. Commissioner that the Team was in the State on an in-depth visit to see first-hand, how far the civil works and other issues were progressing. Dr. Abu informed the Hon. Commissioner that the Bank was aware of the request of the State Government for the Bank’s intervention in the area of flood control and assured that the visit would give the team the opportunity to see things as they were, so as to be in a better position to advise the Bank accordingly. The TTL expressed happiness that the State Government is sponsoring the Engineering Design for some gully sites and assured that the Bank will consider the design once it is in accordance with the World Banks Standard.
Dr. Abu called for a policy as well as a legal framework that will ensure sustainability of the Project stressing the importance of institutionalizing the intervention process. He expressed hope that the project management unit will one day evolve into an agency dedicated to the fight of erosion in the State.
