Five World Bank erosion control projects, worth billions of naira have been abandoned in Cross River State due to alleged interference by immediate past government.

The five projects are Ikot Uduak,  Ikot Effanga,  Edim Otop 2, Itate in Yala Council; Igaba in Obudu Council.
In June last year, when World Bank ended the programme, only about 60 per cent work had been done.

Reliable sources said top government officials and associates in former Governor Ben Ayade’s government insisted on handling the projects despite World Bank standards and guidelines, as they wanted an upfront payment but World Bank declined since it was not their policy.

Eventually, the contractors and government associates could only do 60 per cent as they lacked the competence to execute the jobs in accordance with World Bank standard.

Officials in Cross River Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Project (CR-NEWMAP) declined comments since there was no substantive coordinator in charge, but top sources in the NEWMAP said: “There is nothing we can do now since the phase one of the projects ended in June last year. Yes, there were some interference by officials and associates of former government, hence the work in all the five sites could not be completed as expected.

“We hope the new government will look into these areas and encourage the World Bank to come in. There is nothing that can be done in those areas for now except state government can convince the World Bank to come back and at the same time cause the contractors or government associates that handled all the five projects to come back to site in line with World Bank standard.”