By Ukeh Omang
The Nigerian Climate Adaptation – Erosion and Watershed Project (NEWMAP-EIB) has stated its readiness to fix all threatening gully erosion sites in Cross River state.
The national project coordinator Engr. Anda Ayuba Yalaks made the pledge during his 3 day visit to the state to evaluate the state’s effective readiness towards disbursement and project implementation take off.
Speaking during the visit, the National Project Coordinator (NPC) Engr. Ayuba Yalaks said the visit to Cross River is a Scoping Mission which is aimed at accessing the state’s readiness to participate in the NEWMAP-EIB project.
Ayuba explained that the project is committed to collaboration with stakeholders in its bid towards ensuring a successful project implementation and completion in the State.
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On his part, the state commissioner for environment Hon. Moses Osogi pledged the state’s readiness to offer full support to NEWMAP-EIB in combating Gully Erosion in the State.
Speaking during a visit to his office, Osogi lamented that gully erosion has become life threatening to some areas in the state where houses and other properties have been swept away.
“Interventions undertaken by NEWMAP phase 1 had helped in reclaiming some of this areas as well as preventing disasters in some life threatening sites.
“We have always partnered with NEWMAP since it’s creation in 2010 and we are ready to do even more to ensure we reduce the hazard to the barest minimum,” the commissioner said.
The state project coordinator (SPC) of NEWMAP-EIB Prof. Emmanuel Eyo while on site inspection with the national coordinator highlighted some key sites that needed immediate interventions especially with the rains coming.
At the Ikot Effangha Gully site behind NTA Calabar, the SPC lamented that the gully has been life threatening for years leading to the collapse of about 3 houses.
Also speaking, Mrs Agnes, one of the residents of Ikot Uduak expressed joy as NEWMAP returns, “I am really happy the project is about to begin again as the work done so far in the community is beginning to get threatened again.”
The NEWMAP-EIB team led by the NPC Engr. Ayuba Yalaks and the State Project Coordinator Prof. Emmanuel Eyo concluded the working visit to the state by carrying out on the spot assessment of some gully erosion sites which include Mechanic village, Edim Otop, Ikot Effangha Mkpa, Ikot Uduak, NTA, Goodluck Jonathan Bypass in Calabar as well as Itate in Yala LGA and Agiga in Ogoja local government area.
