By Dennis Agbo

ENUGU- GOVERNOR Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu state has handed over to a contractor, the Umuavulu-Abor deep erosion gully for reclamation, channelling and remediation works.

Ugwuanyi

Inaugurating the project, yesterday, at the site in Abor, Udi local government area of the state, Governor Ugwuanyi said the project was cleared by the world bank which he stated was a veritable partnering agency.

He stated that the procurement processes for the project crystallized to the inauguration, adding that the project has not only put smiles in various households in the affected community, but has also inserted mitigation measures to the environmental challenge.

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Represented by the state commissioner for Works, Engr Greg Nnaji, Governor Ugwuanyi disclosed that the project had, last year, carried out Resettlement Action Plan to percieved project affected persons.

“This effort, I was reliably informed, had various households recieving some monetary compensation,” Ugwuanyi said.

State coordinator for the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project, NEWMAP, Mr. Vincent Obetta noted that prior to the project inauguration; series of sensitisation, workshops and trainings were conducted for the family stakeholders to ensure smooth running and sustainability of the project.

Obetta stated that the project would not have been possible without the counterpart funding of the state government released last year to compensate the project affected persons.

President General of the community, Mr. Netchy Mbaeze expressed gratitude of the community for the bold step of the state government and the world bank for the rescue project.

“This dreadful natural disaster had continued to eat up our land from all flanks and to threaten our very existence,” Mbaeze said.