- Receives Engineering Design From NEWMAP-EIB
Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. (Elder) Sheriff Oborevwori has approved the sum of N1 billion as counterpart fund for the erosion control in Amachai, Ogbeozoma and Vanguard areas in the state capital territory.
This was disclosed, yesterday, by the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Ejiro Jamani, during the presentation of the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project-EIB (NEWMAP-EIB) Engineering Designs of the Amachai/Ogbeozoma and Vanguard Area erosion sites, held at Prof. Chike Edozien Secretariat, Asaba.
He said that the decision by the Governor was in fulfillment of his promise to eliminate the challenges faced by impacted persons in Amachai, Ogbeozoma and Vanguard areas. The commissioner also said that the Governor’s intervention is to usher Delta State into the committee of NEWMAP states that have qualified for the European Investment Bank (EIB) intervention in Nigeria.
He said that the Governor, in addition to the N1bn counterpart fund, provided N300m for engineering designs consultancy of the affected erosion sites as pre-qualification for disbursement by the EIB.
According to him, the NEWMAP engineering design has provided a detailed engineering design of the major drainage system and hydraulic structures within the affected catchment areas. The event provided opportunity for stakeholders to make meaningful contributions towards the success of the project.
The commissioner, who commended the role of NEWMAP in the state, said NEWMAP was positioned to handle the state’s environmental challenges as part of its objectives to strengthen institutions and improve lives.
In his remarks, the NEWMAP State Project Coordinator, Mr. Bennedict Nwaokocha, commended the Governor for keying into the project, a development which led to payment of the counterpart funding.
He said the intervention of the Governor has put Delta into the front states of NEWMAP.
Mr. Nwaokocha added that the meeting afforded Delta State Office of NEWMAP to present the erosion control to stakeholders in the three affected areas of Okpanam community.
He told journalists that immediately the engineering design of the consultancy firm is approved by NEWMAP headquarters in Abuja, the project will commence.
He said the community- stakeholders meeting was successful as they have felt the pulse of the people and the people in the area have also known that the state government was working in their favour as their interest is being protected.
