NGOs task World Bank/NEWMAP on Delta erosion, flood projects

Forum of Delta State Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) has urged the World Bank office in Abuja to urgently start work at the erosion and flood devastated sites in Owanta-Midoma, Jesse, Ubulu-Uku, Ukwu-Nzu and Obomkpa to save lives and property.

The coordinator, Okezi Odugala, and secretary, Chief Greg Osamenjor, made this appeal while addressing journalists in Asaba.

According to them, a recent field assessment visit to the five sites shows that there is urgent need to commence remediation and construction activities to check the escalating erosion and flood ravaging the areas.

The development is already posing danger to the inhabitants and their livelihood, they added, observing that many houses had been destroyed, lives lost, businesses closed down and farmlands washed away.

Commending Governor Ifeanyi Okowa for releasing the counterpart funding of N500 million for the project since 2016, they also praised the Commissioner for Environment, Chief John Nani, as well as the Nigeria Environment and Watershed Management Programme (NEWMAP) and World Bank team in Delta State for carrying out the needed capacity building and technical studies for the project.

They also appreciated the World Bank for selecting Delta to benefit from NEWMAP, which is geared towards environmental protection and sustainable development in Nigeria.

The forum called on all stakeholders to see to the immediate implementation of the erosion and flood control intervention projects in the five communities and its replication in more communities, as a stitch in time saves nine.