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The Kogi State Government has embarked on the inspection and monitoring of the ongoing erosion projects being executed by the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (Kogi-NEWMAP) across the state.
The members of the Steering and Technical Committees of Kogi NEWMAP, led by its Chairman, Hon Victor Adewale Omofaiye, who were on inspection tour recently to the project sites across the state, commended the quality of projects executed at various site by the contractors.
Speaking to journalists after the inspection of the projects, Omofaiye expressed satisfaction with level of work done especially at Agassa and Ozuri sites in Kogi Central, and Adum Ogugu in Kogi East.
Omofaiye, who doubles as the State’s Commissioner for Environment, said the essence of the inspection by the committees, was to see things for themselves and ascertain the level, and quality of work done at all the sites.
The commissioner commended the governor for his commitment to ameliorating the suffering of the people of the state and his giant strides in all sectors of the economy.
He advised the people to develop maintenance culture and desist from the act of dumping refuse in drainages to allow free flow of water.
Also speaking, the State Coordinator of Kogi- NEWMAP, Barr. Ladi Jato, commended His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello for his commitment and for doing a great work as far as erosion control is concerned in the state.
She said: “ the result we are witnessing today is as a result of His Excellency’s commitment “
She added that the government was not only controlling erosion and land reclamation but also constructing roads to ease the movement of the benefiting communities . adding that Agassa is 90 per cent completed while that of Ozuri has reached 100 per cent.
She noted that the quality of the work at Ogugu was quite appreciable, but the work rate was a bit slow due to the enormous task of the project.
On his part, the Design and Supervisory Consultant, Kogi-NEWMAP, noted that the project designs which was fully funded by Kogi State Government, started in 2017 while the construction work began in July 2020 and was expected to terminate in June 2021 in the first phase of the project.
According to him, as a result of the raining season the projects are still being put under strict supervision before the final submission.
In their separate comments, the Traditional Rulers of Ozuri Community, the Adeika of Ozi-Onogu, HRH Dr Shuaibu Ali; and the Ogohi-Onu Anyigba, HRH Alhaji Abu Okolo, both commended the State Government for the gesture, describing those projects as gigantic that would stand the test of time.
Project sites inspected include: Agassa Ukpogoro road, Agassa -Okene -Eba road, Aheba community road, Ozuri gully in Adavi LGA, Ogane-Aji Anyigba in Dekina LGA, Ogugu centre, Alacha road, Adum Ogugu road, and Alasha drainages, all in Olamaboro LGA.
_Compiled by:_ *Igiku Mary, information officer, Kogi State Ministry of Environment.*
