FG to spend N19b on erosion control projects

NEWMAP is an 8-years development project with the objectives to reduce vulnerability to soil erosion in targeted sub- watersheds is due to commence in October focusing on 21 sites in seven states, National Project Coordinator, Engr. Chikelo Nwune made the disclosure recently in Abuja.
Nwune said the fund for the execution of the project was raised by the Federal Government with support from International Development Association (IDA), the Global Environmental Facility (GEF), Trust Fund and the special Climate Change Fund (SCCF).
He said, “The operation is an 8 year strategic investment loan of $508.59 million consisting of a $500M IDA concessional loan blended with GEF and SCCF grants totaling $8, 59 million.
He noted that the project is targeted at ecological challenges particularly the aspect of erosion and focusing on seven states of  Abia, Anambra, Cross River, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu and Imo State respectively and subsequently scale out to other states nationwide.
“The areas on focus presently falls within the high rainfall belt and in that belt you find out that the vegetations are tall green because of the duration of rain fall and some of these gully sites are over 90 meters in depth and some in weight could be as wide as 300 to 500 meters wide while some of the lengths could be up to 5 to 10 kilometres,” he said.
He added that the devastation caused by the erosion to host communities is not only affecting the lands but the roads as well.  “In that ecological environment, the soils are predominantly very weak and the natural environment and the topography also contributes in washing away the soil, he said.”
Nwune, however, noted that NEWMAP project was specifically designed in response to Mr. President’s request to the Bank to support the country in addressing the age long and yet worsening problem of land and water degradation.
According to him, NEWMAP will reduce vulnerability to ravaging gully erosion in targeted watershed hence support the country’s transformation agenda to achieve greater environmental and economic security.