Obiano craves FG, World Bank commitment to erosion project funding in Anambra

Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra state has called on the federal government and the World Bank to demonstrate more commitment in the counterpart fund agreement to execute erosion projects in the state to mitigate their impacts on the socio-economic livelihoods of the people.
He made the appeal while on courtesy visit to the Environment Minister, Mrs. Laurentia Mallam, in Abuja, revealing that his state had already paid its own contribution of N500 million to ensure the successful completion of the projects before the commencement of this year’s rainy season.
‘’We have put our initial counterpart contribution and look forward to the other parties meeting their own side of the deal,’’ Obiano said.
He hinted that the visit was to fine-tune measures on how to strengthen the ongoing collaboration to expand the scope and facilitate the implementation of work where these threats are alarming.

The governor informed the minister of eight other sites that are being considered by the state for execution, as part of efforts to further compliment the additional 11 captured by the World Bank and federal government.
He disclosed that the state ministry of environment had been directed to conduct fresh numeration of erosion sites to give an update on new sites, while sand excavation in all parts of the state had been banned to determine its contribution in aggravating erosion devastation.
The state chief executive explained that necessary efforts were also being put together to enact environmental regulations and check activities such as tree felling, bush burning and poor waste disposal to stem the crisis, assuring that measures had also been put in place to promote transparency and accountability in the deal.

Environment Minister, Mrs. Laurentia Mallam, in her response commended the governor for spontaneously showing commitment towards checking erosion menace in the state, and reiterated the federal government’s commitment in implementing the 11 erosion projects captured in the agreement.
Mallam recalled that in 2013, the federal government implemented 17 projects to tackle erosion in the state, highlighting that over 18 more sites have also been identified for 2014.
“We call on other state governors to do the same so that the Transformation Agenda of Mr. President will be a reality,’’ the minister said.
She informed that the ministry is planning to organise a nationwide sensitisation campaign to enlighten Nigerians on the fragile nature of the environment and the need to protect it for the benefit of future generation.