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NEWMAP warns C’River communities against illegal sand mining, dumping of refuse

By Tina Agosi Todo, Calabar
08 September 2022   |   5:06 am
Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Project (CRS-NEWMAP) has cautioned CROSS River State communities, where erosion sites have been completed, to desist from illegal sand mining and dumpling of refuse in drains.

Cross River State Commissioner for International Development, Dr. Inyang Asibong (left); Head of Civil Service of the state, Timothy Akwaji; Accountant General, Joseph Adie and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP), Mr. Francis Agaba, during the handover of six completed erosion sites to the state government by NEWMAP in Calabar… yesterday PHOTO:NAN

Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Project (CRS-NEWMAP) has cautioned CROSS River State communities, where erosion sites have been completed, to desist from illegal sand mining and dumpling of refuse in drains.

The communities include: Atakpa, Ikot Anwantim, Nyangasang, Lemna/Federal Agriculture, Ikot Ekpo and Edim Otop. NEWMAP Communications Officer, Mrs. Affiong Ita, gave the warning during the handing over of the sites to the communities at Ikot Ekpo site in 8 Miles, Calabar Municipal Council.

Ani, who frowned on the continuous sand mining at Ikot Ekpo, said despite warnings, some persons in the community are still mining sand, which she said wasundermining the good work.

Ita said: “We are very lucky with these sites that are completed, the people should be very appreciative. We have seen that residents are dumpling refuse into drains of these sites that are just completed. Clan heads, residents of these communities, we are pleading with you, form a vigilante, let them look into problems of sand mining because those activities will undermine this work and something more devastating will happen.”

EARLIER, while commissioning the Ikot Ekpo site, the Commissioner, Ministry of International Development Cooperation, Dr. Inyang Asibong, urged the communities to jealously guide the sites by ensuring that refuse were not dumped in the drainages.

He said: “Having successfully completed work on the six sites, it is imperative to hand over the sites to relevant stakeholders and end-users for maintenance and sustainability.

“It is worthy to note that enormous government resources have been sunk into the project, It behoves relevant stakeholders to jealously guide the sites and ensure that refuse are not dumped into the drains as this will undermine the work already carried out.”

The commissioner, who doubles as the project coordinator, commended the state governor, Ben Ayade, for providing the counterpart funding and also the World bank for its support.

The state’s Head of Service (HoS), Mr. Ogbang Akwaji, commended NEWMAP for the completion of the sites and also the state Accountant General for releasing the fund for the project.

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