Erosion control: FG pledges to support Anambra
FEDERAL Government has reiterated its commitment to
supporting Anambra State in her efforts to control erosion in all the areas
that are facing the two environmental disasters.
To this end, the state has been slated to benefit from 19
ecological intervention projects which federal government will embark upon in
the first quarter of the current fiscal year.
President Muhammadu Buhari disclosed this commitment while
speaking at inauguration and handover ceremony of two anti-erosion projects
which were flagged off at Umunze, Orumba South Local Government Area. The
project, which is being executed by the Federal Government through the
Ecological Fund Office (EFO), involves construction of a 3.30-km long stretch
with 10-metre wide double coated asphaltic pavement and line drains.
Further specifications shows that it has a record completion
period of nine months.
President Buhari, who was represented by Minister of State
for Environment, Sharon Ikeazor, expressed hope that the project is expected to
check flooding and gully erosion menace in the community and environs as well
as become a huge relief to the community.
According to him, the project is being attracted by the
seriousness already shown by Gov. Willie Obiano to enhancing the living
standards of the people all over the state, adding that federal government will
always assist him in delivering more dividends of good governance.
Commending the community for their cooperation and support
for Gov. Obiano, Buhari also urged them to reciprocate his gestures by shunning
indiscriminate dumping of refuse into drainage channels which, the president
traced to flooding and erosion.
“It is the responsibility of this community to own and
maintain the project to ensure its sustainability,” he stated.
Earlier in an address, Gov. Obiano who was represented by
Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Nkem Okeke noted that the state
government had intensified measures to backtrack erosion menace in the state
and in addition, called on the Federal Government and World Bank to continue to
support efforts of the state.
“We, in the government of Anambra State are very happy and
will like to thank President Buhari for this particular effort. Erosion is a
major problem, one of the greatest challenges we have in the state, as the
state is losing its landmass to gully erosion,” he said.
The Permanent Secretary of Federal Ministry of Environment,
Dr. Habiba Lawal, who was represented by a community liaison officer, Felix
Okeke tasked people of the area to ensure that resources committed to the
completion of the project would not be wasted by imbibing environmental safety
standard practices.
Expressing the community’s gratitude to Gov. Obiano and
President Buhari for the project, President-General of Umunze Town Union, John
Akanyeonu, promised to set machinery in motion to protect the facility when
completed.
He said the completion of the project would help to arrest
the continued flooding and erosion menace within the area.
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