By CHARLES IWUOHA

The Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) has so far expended $37.713 million projects in Ebonyi State between 2013 and 2020, geared towards addressing the challenges of land degradation in the state.

The State Project Coordinator of NEWMAP, Dr. Philip Echiegu, made the disclosure, in Abakaliki, the state capital, on Wednesday, on the occasion of the official flag-off of distribution of World Bank assisted items of Community Livelihood Enhancement Support.

He said that NEWMAP, a World Bank assisted project, has expended N205.633 million for the resettlement of 900 Project Affected Persons (PAPs) within the corridors of the four on-going intervention sites in the capital city of Abakaliki (including Iyi-Udele Flood Sites, Odumoke-Nkaliki Hatchery Road flood Site, Iyiokwu International Market Flood Site and Ebi-River flood site.

Dr. Echiegu emphasised that the agency has equally spent N290.798 million since the commencement of projects execution in 2013 in the state.

The Project Coordinator noted that NEWMAP projects have four components namely Erosion and Watershed Management Infrastructure Investments, Erosion and Watershed Managements Institutions/Information Services, Climate Change Response and Project Management.

He maintained that Ebonyi State keyed into NEWMAP activities in September 2013 due to the twin problems of flood and gully erosion menace.

According to him, “The project development objective is to reduce vulnerability to soil erosion in targeted sub-watersheds in project participating states.”

Dr. Echiegu said that 23 states in the country are participating in NEWMAP programmes including Abia, Anambra, Cross River, Ebonyi, Edo, Gombe, Oyo, Akwa Ibom, Sokoto, Plateau, Ogun and Ekitti States among others.

He outlined major achievements of NEWMAP in Ebonyi State to include completion of the remediation works at Nguzzu Edda Guilly Site where erosion menace had sacked the entire local Government Headquarters, implementation of flood control/bio-mediation/fencing works at Odunukwe Nkaliki Hatchery (2.988km) total length at 87 percent level of completion.

Other projects completed include the implementation of flood control fencing works at Ebia River-Egu-Ugwu Agbaja flood Control site (4.87 km total length) at 71 per cent level of completion among others.

Earlier while performing the flag-off ceremony, the state Deputy Governor, Kelechi Igwe, commended the management of NEWMAP for embarking on various projects in the state aimed at reducing vulnerability to soil erosion in the state.

The Deputy Governor said that the distribution of items of community livelihood Enhancement support to beneficiaries and groups would go a long way in cushioning the plight of people in the state.

“I urge NEWMAP to think deep and assist in Agricultural practices with emphasis on making agriculture the main stay of the state economy.”

NEWMAP is a 9-year state-led multi-sectoral and multi-scale World Bank assisted project initiated by the Federal Government to address the challenges of land degradation in Nigeria.

Highlights of the programme was the distribution of items procured with funds from Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF), Global Environment Facility to various beneficiaries by NEWMAP.

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