Ogun to access $5m World Bank fund for erosion control

The World Bank, in collaboration with the Federal Government, is set to release $5 million as the take-off grant for the preparation and implementation of the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) in Ogun State.

The fund, according to the World Bank, is to enable the state tackle the challenges of erosion in the state.

The World Bank Task Team Leader for Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project, Dr. Amos Abu, disclosed this when he led a delegation of the bank and officials of NEWMAP on a visit to the state governor, Dapo Abiodun, in his office at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

He said the state was the latest to be factored into the project owing to the high quality of its team whose members have shown energy, commitment and enthusiasm.

According to Abu, Ogun State has also met some conditions, which included transparency, candour, accountability, probability and commitment.

“We have assessed your project team and we discovered they are capable. We have assessed your readiness, commitment and internal control mechanisms that will ensure that the resources that the bank will be bringing to partner with you will be used for the intended purpose.

“We have, therefore, agreed that based on the quality of engagement with your team and the way they answered all our probing questions as well as the proposed work plan, we are convinced that when this money is released, it would be used for purpose.

“So, we are happy to announce that we will be releasing the sum of five million dollars to the state. This is against two million dollars, which we normally give to state.

“We want to assure you that we will work with your team so that we can begin to see the transformative results that the NEWMAP is delivering,” he said.

The governor, in his response, expressed happiness that the state had been incorporated into the project.

He said that his administration since inception had held series of discussions with the bank on how it would assist the state in tackling the menace or erosion affecting some parts of the state.