The Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) has cautioned residents of communities in Cross River where erosion sites are completed to desist from illegal sand mining and dumpling of refuse in drains.
The Cross River NEWMAP Communications Officer, Mrs Affiong Ani, gave the warning during the handing over of six sites to the communities for ownership in Calabar.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the six communities are, Atakpa, Ikot Anwantim, Nyangasang, Lemna/ Federal Agriculture, Ikot Ekpo and Edim Otop gully erosion site.
Ani frowned at the continuous sand mining in some of the communities.
She said that in spite of several warnings, some persons in the communities were still mining sand which she said was undermining the good work of NEWMAP.
“We are very lucky with these sites that are completed. The people should be very appreciative.
“We have also noticed that residents dump refuse into the drains of these sites that are just completed.
“You will see where people mine sand. Clan heads, residents of these communities, we are pleading with you, form a vigilante, let them look into problems of sand mining.
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“This is because if nothing is done, the erosion control works that have been done in your community will be undermined, causing a more devastating degradation,” she warned.
Earlier while commissioning the Ikot Ekpo site and handing over, the Commissioner, Ministry of International Development Cooperation, Dr Inyang Asibong, urged the communities to guide the sites by ensuring that refuse were not dumped in the drainages.
“Having successfully completed work on the six sites, it is therefore imperative for NEWMAP to handover the sites to the relevant stakeholders and end users for maintenance and sustainability.
“Government resources have been sunk into the project.
“It behoves on the relevant stakeholders to jealously guide the sites and ensure that refuse are not dumped into the drains as this will undermine the work already carried out,’’ the commissioner said.
Asibong who doubles as the Project Coordinator, commended Gov. Ben Ayade for providing the counterpart funding and also the World bank for its massive support.
Speaking on behalf of the six communities, the Chairman of Ikot Ekpo Development Association, Dr Victor Odor, thanked God for the completion of the projects.
“These sites were pathetic in the past and the people lived in fear especially when it rained.
“Thank God for NEWMAP, World Bank and the Government of Cross River. Our hope is renewed; we have a good tarred road with drainage systems,” Odor said.
