Delta state government has urged drivers of government policies and consultancy firms to work within the contractual agreement to meet up with projects’ stipulated time-line.
The State Commissioner, Ministry of Environment, Hon. Ejiro Tommy Jamani, gave the charge, when he presided over a joint meeting of Steering/Technical Committees of Delta State Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP – European Investment Bank, EIB), in Asaba.
Jamani, who presided over the presentation of implementation performance report of the project by the State Project Coordinator, Mr. Benedict Nwaokocha, gave approval for the engagement of Engineering consultancy firm to do the requisite engineering and consultancy designs of the catastrophic gully erosions in Amachai/Ogbozoma and Vanguard Quarters in Okpanam Community, within the Asaba Capital Territory.
The meeting also gave approval for the engagement of Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Procurement, Resettlement Action Plan (RAP), Catchment Management Plan (CMP), Baseline Studies, Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP) consultancy firms.
Meanwhile, The State Project Coordinator of NEWMAP, Mr. Benedict Nwaokocha, in a power-point presentation, reviewed the Phase One success stories of the Project, saying the Phase Two of the Project under the Delta State Government and assisted European Investment Bank (EIB) was aimed at improving the infrastructural and socio-economic development of the state.
Speaking further, the Commissioner and Chairman, Steering Committee of the Project, in company of the ministry’s Permanent Secretary and Chairman, Technical Committee of the Project, Dr. (Mrs.) Minnie Oseji, said the state government under the MORE agenda of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori administration has decided to prioritised Amachai/Ogbozoma, Vanguard Area, Ubulu-Uku and Jesse gully erosion and flood sites in order of severity for intervention.
According to Minnie, “The state government found it necessary to prioritize the Amachai/Ogbozoma and Vanguard Area, within the Asaba Capital Territory for immediate intervention due to the severity of the two sites”.
She said the Governor Oborevwori administration was focused to continue with the NEWMAP project in the state, having seen the successes recorded in its Phase One, had given approval for the release of N1 billion (one billion naira) as counterpart funding for the second phase of the assisted European Investment Bank (EIB) project in the state.
