Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has assured residents of Queen Ede, in Ogbeson quarters, Benin City, that government would do everything possible to arrest the gully erosion ravaging the area.
Oshiomhole said the state government is in partnership with the World Bank on the problem and that government has already set aside N500 million to address the menace.
Oshiomhole gave the assurance when he conducted a team of World Bank officials on an inspection of the gully erosion.
According to the governor: “We are doing our best.
“As you can see, I came with some expatriates from Washington, whom we have written to come and see what is happening so that they can design an appropriate design, which we are already working on.
“The reason why I have come is to show them the problem.
“The people are coming to carry out the full study.
“This is not something like putting up PHCN or generator.
“You need to carry out proper study before you can start to address the problem.
“There is no overnight solution.
“Those who are doing the design, they already have an overview of the entire problem.
“When they finish the design, the next thing is to look for the money.”
Oshiomhole disclosed that the Edo State Government has put aside N500 million.
“We are expecting that the World Bank would also give the additional money.
“It is something that we are already working on and my visit today is not to come and see whether there is a problem.
“I have already seen the problem.
“I have only come to show the World Bank officials the extent of the gully erosion.”
Conducting the leader of the World Bank team, Benoit Bosquet, who is also the Sector Manager, Environment, World Bank, in Washington, Oshiomhole said the resources required to fix the erosion is enormous.
According to him: “With your support and the proper design, all the details, we can find a lasting solution.
“You can see this school has given way.
“Right now we are relocating the people of this school to another school.
“We have also tried to talk with the Federal Government to draw from the ecological fund to deal with.
“Again that has not been successful.
“Our final hope now is the bank.
“We are hoping that you will help us out and have it fixed.
“A lot of communities down there, farmland, homes are all gone.
“But even more and more communities are affected.
“So the cost will keep increasing.”
Responding, Benoit Bosquet said: “We understand that the engineering design for this site is at a very advanced stage.
“We recommended that the environmental screening begin and also take the appropriate social and environmental measures to make sure that in addition to the engineering, the social and environmental issues are taken care of so that on that front issues are not made worse.
“Your environmental specialist is here and we would be studying the screening and as soon as the studies are done and the necessary plans put in place, then the work begins.
“When the project is about to become effective it requires full effectiveness of both the state and federal government.
“Edo State is among the first runners.
“You are doing your bit.
“There are still a few steps to be taken.
“I am sure that soon, most of the state level actions would have been taken by ensuring the full management of the state, which has the full compliments would be in place and the effectiveness condition would be met very soon.
“In addition, we expect that next week, Edo would receive the first installment of the preparation advance and finally the cash will start flowing from Washington to Benin City.”
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