Nigeria, World Bank earmark $659m for erosion control in Nigeria – Official

Nigeria and the World Bank are to spend $659 million in tackling erosion in 11 states, including Cross River, a World Bank official said in Calabar on Friday.
Steve Danyo, the Task Team leader of the World Bank for New Map Project, disclosed the plan when the team paid a courtesy visit to Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State.
Danyo, whose team is handling the Nigeria Erosion and Water Shed Management Project, said that the initial amount for the project was $509 million.
He said that the Federal Government increased its counterpart funding because of the enormity of the project and its impact on the citizenry.
Danyo disclosed that the engineering designs for the identified project sites in the state had been approved by the World Bank.
He said that this was to enable it tackle threats of erosion on local communities.
He said the World Bank was happy with the way the Cross River Government was handling the project under its Ministry of Environment and also acknowledged the devastating impact of erosion on lives.
He said the main objective of the team was to provide capacity, as well as undertake environmental assessment, to ensure that the project was effective and result-oriented.
Responding, Imoke said that the execution of the project would create effective relief, adding that the state government was very keen on it.
He gave the assurance that his administration would drive the project to conclusion and lauded the World Bank for helping the state to fight erosion after four sites had been identified and approved by it.
Imoke said that the sites were active and that if left, more challenges would be created, adding that its execution should have time-lines from start to completion.
The governor said the state would ensure that the execution of the project was followed based on the guidelines.
He gave the Ministry of Environment one month to complete all documentation concerning it, by hastening all correspondences and reduction of bureaucratic bottle-neck.
The News agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that the visit was the third and final to the state, after the first in December 2010 and second in February.