World Bank begins reclamation of Imo erosion sites

THE World Bank, through the New Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP), has commenced work on the five gully erosion sites in some Imo State communities.

Work has begun in Eziala Obizi (Ezinihitte council), Amanato, Umueshi and Ntueke (Ideato South council), and Iyiuzo Ihioma and Ogbaeru (Orlu council), among others.

On its part, Governor Rochas Okorocha has released N100 million counterpart fund for the reclamation work, the state’s project coordinator, Victor Anueyiagu, disclosed on Tuesday.

During a media assessment tour of the projects, Shola Akinsiku of Aries Concept and Aisha Bello of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), among others commissioned for the exercise, said that seven affected states in the pilot exercise – Imo, Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi and Abia (South East), as well as Edo and Cross River (South-South) would be assessed.

Akinsiku expressed hope that the communities would soon regain their farmlands. He disclosed that the non-governmental Concerned Group for Nigerian Environment, Population and Development, led by its Executive Director, Mrs. Claribel Opkara, was coopted for an independent view of the projects and performance.

Indigenous contractors are also involved, using the World Bank’s designs for the job.

Meanwhile, Okorocha has directed that every last Saturday of the month would now be observed as environmental sanitation day across the state.

A statement by his Principal Secretary, Dr. Paschal Obi, added that the exercise would be holding between 7 and 10a.m, during which only vehicles and persons on essential duties would be allowed movement.

However, a few days after a taskforce was inaugurated to clear illegal structures in Owerri and other urban cities, scores of petty traders are lamenting the demolition of their shops.