Anambra State Governor, Willie Obiano, yesterday revealed that his government has approved the sum of N500 million as counterpart funding to curb the problem of erosion in the state.
He said his government is working with the Federal Ministry of Environment and the World Bank to reduce flooding and check erosion menace in the state.
Obiano revealed this when he paid a courtesy visit to Minister of Environment, Mrs. Laurentia Mallam in the Ministry’s headquarters at Mabushin, Abuja.
The governor noted that his government has begun the process of putting in place environmental laws that will help check bush burning, tree cutting, and blockage of drainage systems.
He said: “There is need for sensitization on bush burning, cutting woods and terminating gutters or drainage systems abruptly can lead to erosion.
“We are putting a law in place so that we can enforce that. The law will help in the near future to begin to stir the tide in our favour with respect to having a firm control on erosion.
“We have paid the Federal Government 500 million. The money is purely on erosion. The Anambra State government, the World Bank and the Federal Ministry of Environment are working on eleven erosion sites. We are adding an additional eight to the site and all these will require money to be done.
“We have put down our initial counterpart contributions. We are looking forward to the other party meeting their own part of the deal. We really would like to do things before the rain starts coming. That’s the only way we can stem this tide early.”
In her response, the Minister of Environment said the federal government had mapped out 18 erosion projects to be carried out in the state.
Mrs. Mallam said: “We know the issues of erosion in the state. The new map project will be launched in the state soon to fight erosion. The ministry will continue to support your government.
“The Federal Government has earmarked 18 projects to be carried out in the state. I advise Nigerians to keep the environment clean in other to avoid the catastrophic effects of erosion” the minister said.
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Source: Sun
