BENIN CITY – The Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, has said his administration will intensify work on intervention programmes to check the menace of gully erosion as part of effort to alleviate the sufferings of residents in erosion-prone communities in the state.
Addressing journalists after inspecting gully erosion sites in Ogiso Quarters and Urora in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of the state, Obaseki said, “We have started addressing the flood challenges in these areas because before now, this place would be devastated after a rainstorm.
“For us, it is about rebuilding our communities and improving the lives of our citizens. You can imagine the span of this drainage system with over 50 hectares of land and properties, which has now enhanced their values.”
He continued: “I believe this is what development is all about. This is how communities and citizens are being supported. But let’s not forget that all these won’t have happened without the assistance of the World Bank under the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP).
“The purpose of this visit is to confirm that the underground drainage work has been properly completed and the next logical step is to make sure that the road network is covered and the communities have the full benefits that come with this project.
Obaseki added, “This project is not a fancy one. We need to invest in the environment so that we can protect people’s property and livelihoods.”
The Edo State Coordinator for NEWMAP, Mr. Tom Obaseki, said that they have been able to capture 95 percent of the flood water troubling the Ogiso Quarters.
An 83-year-old resident in the area, Madam Clara Uhunwonse, praised the governor for the intervention project, which she said has made life better for them.
