The World Bank-assisted Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) on Wednesday said it has concluded plans to tackle the gully erosion site in Iguosa community, a suburb of Benin in Ovia North East Local Government Area of Edo.
At least 50 houses and other properties have been destroyed in the past four years in the erosion-ravaged Iguosa community in a gully that is described as 60-feet deep, 200-feet wide, and 500-feet long.
The Iguosa Flood and Gully Erosion Remediation work is one of the 12 sites where construction work is on-going by NEWMAP in Edo.
The interventionist agency had successfully delivered the gully projects in Oshiobugie-Auchi in Etsako West and Queen Ede and Ekehuan, both in Benin City, the Edo State capital.
Alex Oleije, Edo Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability said during the presentation of cheques to the Project Affected Persons (PAP) in the community that the contract has been awarded for the project.
Mr Oleije explained that the process was preparatory to the commencement of civil works at the Iguosa gully site. https://tpc.googlesyndication.com/safeframe/1-0-37/html/container.html
He said the payment, which was carried out under the auspices of the World Bank, complied with the institution’s guidelines and global best practices.
“Part of the guideline requires that persons whose properties are on the right of way and would be affected by the construction work should be compensated before the commencement of civil works,” Mr Oleije said.
Shortly before the presentation of the cheques to the beneficiaries, Mr Oleije explained that the project was informed by the commitment of the state governor, Godwin Obaseki, to alleviate the sufferings of the people.
