Edo communities to benefit from N18bn erosion projects

TRACKING___The Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) said it is executing about N18 billion gully erosion and flood control projects in 11 communities in Edo state.

Mr Tom Obaseki, the Project Coordinator, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Benin.

Obaseki said the projects which attained various stages of completion were spread across the three senatorial districts of the state.

He listed the projects in Edo South District to include the Gapiona catchment area; Edo College, Ogiso and Urora areas gully erosion as well as flood control in Benin.

Others are Ewu-Ibore, Emu and Ambrose Alli University (AAU) gully erosion control in Edo Central District, while in Edo North District, flood control is being implemented at Igbe quarters as well as erosion control at Fugar and Agenebode.

“Most of the gully erosion has threatened the structures within the areas where they exist. Like that of the Edo college, this has been threatening the school buildings for several years and brought down many buildings in the area.

“Erosion in Ewu and Ibore had cut off the communities from each other while that of AAU threatened major structures in the campus.

“The impact of these gully erosion on the communities are enormous, some of these communities have been cut off,” he said.

The Coordinator said that eight of the projects were awarded in 2019, adding that the projects had between 18 and 24 months completion period.

“The only challenge is the process to secure the right of way for civil work to be done.

“In the course of doing that, you need to establish the people that own asset along the right of way. Ours is not to develop land registry and land management system is a big challenge in this regard.”