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World Bank, Imo Partner To Salvage Erosion-Ridden Communities

By Charles Ogugbuaja, Owerri
12 July 2015   |   6:49 am
THE joint initiative of the World Bank and the Imo State Government through the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) has commenced. The aim was to reclaim the devastating 50-year-old deep gully erosion sites in some communities in the 27 Local Councils in the state. Already, the state government has paid its counterpart fund…
One of the gully erosion sites in Imo State, being salvaged by the World Bank and the state government’s joint initiative.

One of the gully erosion sites in Imo State, being salvaged by the World Bank and the state government’s joint initiative.

THE joint initiative of the World Bank and the Imo State Government through the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) has commenced.

The aim was to reclaim the devastating 50-year-old deep gully erosion sites in some communities in the 27 Local Councils in the state.

Already, the state government has paid its counterpart fund of N100 Million, according to a reliable source.

The State Project Coordinator of NEWMAP, Victor Anueyiagu, an Engineer, took a high powered national Media Monitoring team led by the Executive Director, Aries Concept, Mr. Sola Akinsiku, Hajia Aisha Bello of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Abuja, the Concerned Group for Nigeria Environment, Population and Development in Nigeria (NCOGED-D), led by Mrs. Claribel Opkara, among others, round the three pilot sites recently, where progress of work had reached advanced stages. The sites included Obizi, Ezinihitte Mbaise local council, Umueshi /Ogboeruru, Ideato South Local Council.

Many houses had been sunk by the gully erosions while many roads were cut off, leading to community dwellers deserting their ancestral homes.

Speaking, the duo of Akinsiku and Anueyiagu, told the community members that the reclamation of the areas hitherto devastated by the erosion was real, urging them to protect their environment.

Some of the erosion stretch covers over 1,000 meters and 4.2 kilo meters deep. The job duration is one year.

Eze S. O. Azubuike, of Obizi community, Ezinihittee Mbaise, said he would ensure that the environment protective measures requested for would be adhered to. They thanked the World Bank and NEWMAP for the effort to salvage their communities.

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