By Isaac Olamikan
Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) in Edo State has embarked on a field inspection of ongoing flood control alleviation project across Edo communities, particularly two of its sites in Ugboha, Esan South East Local Government Area (LGA), and Igbei, in Auchi, Etsako West LGA.
During the exercise, the project’s management team led by its Coordinator, Tom Obaseki held a meeting with the contractors in the respective sites on the progress of the job.
Obaseki stated that the need to adhere to quality and guidelines informed the inspection exercise.
Noting that all ongoing projects undertaken by NEWMAP in the state will be completed before June, the coordinator stated that the contractors in charge of the Igbei Road have assured that the road will be completed and delivered to the people in two weeks.
He reassured that the government will sustain efforts at tackling the problem of flooding and erosion across all Edo communities.
Residents of Igbei, who spoke to journalists during the inspection, hailed the governor for putting the people at the forefront of his administration’s programmes and policies.
A trader in the area noted, “For years, the gully had eroded a large area of the community so much that the once bubbling Auchi Polytechnic and residential town cum economic hub became a shadow of itself.
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“But the Governor Obaseki-led government through Edo State NEWMAP intervention has, however, changed this narrative with the near completion of this flood alleviation work in our community. We are grateful to the Governor and the NEWMAP team.”
Aside the construction of two large ponds to collect storm water at separate locations in the community, an open and underground drainage system has also been provided to take ravaging floods to a safe open-plain outside residential areas.
The stone-based road is the outcome of the underground drainage work done along the road, which now necessitated the asphalting of the road.
PHOTO CAPTION
Coordinator, Edo State Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP), Dr. Tom Obaseki, during the inspection of one of its project sites.
