By Abdullahi Lukman
Edo State government has launched a six-month work plan for the €175 million Nigeria Climate Adaptation – Erosion and Watershed Project (NEWMAP-EIB), funded by the European Investment Bank (EIB), aimed at tackling erosion, land degradation, and climate risks across the state.
The announcement was made by Mr. Ahmed Momoh, Edo Flood, Erosion and Watershed Management Agency (EdoFEWMA) CEO and project coordinator, during the inaugural steering and technical committee meeting held in Benin City on May 22, 2025.
Momoh explained that only 10 percent of the EIB funding would be available initially, contingent on states meeting key administrative and logistical requirements.
Edo State has already released N500 million as counterpart funding and stressed the need for timely disbursement and preparedness to avoid delays.
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“We risk missing critical targets without proper staffing, procurement, and logistics in place,” Momoh said.
Chairman of the Steering Committee, Mr. Jude Ebodaghe Ekpu, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Environment and Sustainability, urged efficient resource use and a focus on results.
“Our goal is to make Edo a benchmark for climate adaptation in Nigeria,” he said.
Mr. Emmanuel Ekomoezor, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, outlined a detailed six-month roadmap with timelines and performance indicators to track project progress.
The NEWMAP-EIB project builds on earlier World Bank-supported erosion control efforts, aiming to scale up interventions through stronger institutional coordination and community engagement.
