Abia to benefit from EU Investment Bank-assisted erosion control intervention

The deplorable state of soil erosion in Abia State has received the attention of the European Union which is set to provide intervention to ameliorate the plight of people in the state.

The project, implemented under the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP), is being funded by the European Investment Bank (EIB).

Engr. Anda Ayuba Yalaks, the National Project Coordinator of (NEWMAP-EIB), decried the state of erosion and land degradation in Abia state, saying the sites are active and expanding at an alarming rate threatening the infrastructure, separating communities, affecting livelihoods and the people’s social cohesion.

Engr. Yalaks made this observation when he led a 9-man delegation from the Federal Project Management Unit on a courtesy visit to the Executive Governor of Abia State, Dr.Alex Chioma Otti, at his residence in Nvosi, Isiala-Ngwa south LGA, Abia State.

NEWMAP-EIB, Communication Specialist, Madina Gertrude, in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja, said the team were in Abia State at the instance of the Governor in order to assess the state’s readiness towards effective disbursement as well as ensure that necessary conditions for attracting the funding from European Investment Bank are met.

According to Yalaks, the conditions precedence for disbursement of the intervention fund include amongst others, site identification, prioritize identified sites, availability of office accommodation, pool of qualified staff, equipped office, project operational vehicles and counterpart fund contribution etc.

He listed some of the critical issues that led to the aggravation of soil erosion in the state to include, nature of the soil, human and topogenic activities, sand mining, poor road designs with abrupt termination of drainages, deforestation, quest for livelihood amongst others.

“Abia State has a list of 52 sites identified but working with the guidelines on site selection criteria, the states have prioritized the sites that need urgent and emergency intervention to not less than 20.

He noted that the sites selected are active, and expanding posing a threat to the infrastructure and life of the people.

He expressed gratitude to the Governor for making the visit possible and for taking the bold step in embarking on people’s oriented and developmental projects which are beneficial to the people of Abia.

While congratulating the Governor, Yalaks said: “You have demonstrated a high level of political will on this project, by so doing you have secured Abia State to meet all the conditions precedence required”.

He also called on the project implementation unit (PIU) to engage in continuous community and citizen engagement to create awareness and to get the people’s buy-in and ownership of the project for the purpose of sustainability.

He, however, appealed to the Governor to increase the counterpart fund contribution which would serve for compensation, office running costs, staff salaries and allowances.

He assured the Governor of the FPMU’s support to Abia NEWMAP-EIB in the restoration of degraded lands and gully erosions more especially in the Aba industrial city for the restoration of its lost glory.

He noted that Aba is critical when it comes to the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state, thereby restoring hope in the lives of the people in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Earlier, the governor lamented the impassible state of some of the roads linking other states to Abia and roads within the state, applauding the earlier submission of the National Project Coordinator on the abrupt termination of drainages.

“If you don’t terminate your drainage appropriately, you are creating a problem that will surely happen. There are places around Arochukwu, Aba, etc. These are disasters waiting to happen. I am not a climate expert but I am interested” he said.

He assured the NEWMAP -EIB team of his cooperation and promised to make additional counterpart fund contributions available.

The State Project Coordinator, Ikechukwu Ukaegbu, in his remarks, thanked the governor for providing all the necessary support to the Abia NEWMAP-EIB team to enable it meet the conditions precedent for effective readiness.

“It is because of the magnanimity of HIs Excellency that all this is possible, we want to say thank you “.

In his vote of thanks the Abia State Honourable Commissioner for Environment, Philemon Ogbonna commended the FPMU Team for proactiveness and moving swiftly to site on arrival, he also thanked the governor for receiving the team despite his busy schedule.

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