The Edo State government and the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) have commenced payment of compensation to 49 persons who were affected by an erosion control project in Ogiso-Osunde community, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of the state.
Speaking during the presentation of cheque to the beneficiaries, Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, said the Ogiso-Osunde flood control project was among several other intervention projects executed by Edo NEWMAP in the past six years.
Represented by his Chief of Staff, Taiwo Akerele, he said the Community Oversight Committees, Grievance Redress Desk and other safeguard measures will be put in place to ensure smooth implementation of the project.
“The Edo NEWMAP will constitute community oversight committees that will assist in third-party monitoring of the project so that they can escalate issues that might arise from the execution of the project.”
The Project Coordinator of NEWMAP, Dr. Tom Obaseki, said the intervention was designed to permanently tackle flood and gully erosion in Ogiso-Osunde community.
According to him, the contractor handling the project will commence work as soon as the payment of compensation to affected persons is concluded.
While noting that the engineering design has been done, he said the community has been briefed about the intervention and a contractor has been engaged to do the work.
Tom noted that the two major underground tunnels would take flood water in Ogiso-Osunde through 3rd East Circular axis of Benin to Ikpoba River.
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