World Bank compensates 324 persons affected by gully erosion

• Projects In Ebonyi Near Completion, Says NEWMAP
The World Bank Project (Assisted), through its Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP), has compensated 324 persons affected by gully erosion in three sites in Imo State.

The Imo State Project Coordinator of the NEWMAP, Victor Anueyiagu, said this in Owerri, at the weekend, during a media roundtable and sensitisation for the benefitting communities and stakeholders; and to mark the World Environment Day (WED).

Anueyiagu said 21 Communities Interest Groups (CIGs) have submitted proposals for support to set up farms that would span poultry, piggery, fishery, cassava production and processing and oil palm production/ products.

The state commissioner for Agriculture, Natural Resources and Environment, who was represented by the ministry’s Director of Environmental Sanitation, Nze Awumuonye Nwaneri, said the state has paid N100m counterpart fund to the bank, adding that the bank was intervening in the three sites in Imo, which includes communities in Ezinihitte Mbaise, Ideato South, Orlu and Ideato North.

Meanwhile, the Ebonyi State Coordinator of NEWMAP, Dr. Philip Echiegu has assured the state government of speedy completion of all the bank’s assisted flood/erosion site projects.

Echiegu, who gave the assurance during an assessment visit to one of the flood sites at Nguzu Edda in Afikpo South Local Council Area, disclosed that four of the flood sites have reached advanced stages in design and review by the World Bank.