The Edo StateEdo State Government  on Wednesday said it has paid N800 million counterpart funding to the European Union to control erosion and flooding in the state particularly in the Benin metropolis.

 

Nosa Adams, Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability who disclosed this during the State Ministry of Information and Strategy’s bi-monthly press briefing, said the project is a continuation of the Benin Storm Water Project initiated by former Governor Adams Oshiomhole but discontinued by the immediate past administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki.

 

The Guardian recalls that former governor Oshiomhole in 2012 announced the Benin Storm Water Project to control the perennial flooding and erosion in Benin City, commissioning N30bn for the same project.

 

Oshiomhole announced 13-feet deep channel construction on the New Lagos Road to link the canal on Five Junction to the canal on the Traditional Ground in order to control the erosion in the city. But when Obaseki assumed office, he described the project as a fraud and discontinued it.

 

Speaking on the state government’s plans to control erosion, Adams said in the next two months, all the paperwork would be done and work will commence.

 

He said: “And as a follow-up, you know, the major problem we are facing in this very particular period is flooding and erosion control. And we have some notorious spots. But His Excellency has also followed up with the European Union Investment Bank, and has paid the counterpart funding, which, of course, Edo State is one of the states that have promptly paid the counterpart funding sources as to continue the Benin Storm Water Project, which was thwarted by the last administration.

 

“And now that we have paid our counterpart funding, in the next two months or so, the second phase and, of course, the last phase of the comprehensive storm project of Benin metropolis will have commenced. And we intend to link it up with Tomline, Siluko Road, and Ekewan Road. I can assure you that flooding and erosion problems will be a thing of the past in those areas.”

 

Also speaking, Prince Kassim Afegbua, Commissioner for Information and Strategy said the state government plans to carry out a massive reclamation of the Government Reservation Area with drainage to deflood the area into Ogba River.