The Anambra State chapter of Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP), has refutted a claim in some quarters that it abandoned erosion sites at Agulu in Anaocha Local Government Area and those at Nanka and Oko, Orumba north local government area.
Media report had claimed that the agency stopped works at the ecological devastated areas in the three communities as well as accus leaderships of the communities of embezzling the funds.
But NEWMAP, in a statement signed by its Communication Officer, Mr Emeka Achebe, disclosed that the agency rather received an appeal from leadership of the three communities which they would forward to the appropriate state entity for quick action.
“On Tuesday May 12 2020, we met with the leadership of the three communities made up of the Coordinator of the Erosion Management, Chief Damian Okeke Ogene, its Secretary, Dr. Barnabas Nwafor and the Presidents General of the three Communities to address the concerns raised in the said letter and redress the misinformation carried in the news media following their appeal.
“NEWMAP wishes to state that the World Bank, Federal and Anambra State governments have not abandoned the three communities and therefore commiserates with the people of Agulu, Nanka and Oko communities especially the traditional rulers of Agulu, H.R.H Innocent Obodoakor, H.R.H Prof Laz Ekwueme (Oko), H.R.H Godwin Ezeilo (Nanka) on the erosion menace in their communities,” it stated. The agency further revealed that Anambra State has benefited immensely from NEWMAP across 14 communities where erosion works were ongoing or completed due to Governor Willie Obiano’s commitment to reversing the threat of erosion in Anambra for good.
“The World Bank supported Anambra in carrying out all the required studies and engineering designs with a public display to allow for input from the communities to ensure the delivery of a fit-for-purpose intervention, according to global best practices. This includes a stormwater masterplan for Onitsha metro area, which will provide the blueprint for permanently solving the flood problem in Onitsha and its vicinity,” it added, noting that they were exploring other funding opportunities to effectively carry on ecological projects.
