The Edo State Government on Wednesday said it had paid N800 million in counterpart funding to the European Union (EU) to control erosion and flooding in the state, particularly in the Benin metropolis.
Making the disclosure at the bi-monthly press conference by the State Ministry of Information and Strategy, the Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability, Mr Nosa Adams, said that the project was a continuation of the Benin Storm Water Project initiated by former Governor Adams Oshiomhole but was discontinued by the immediate past administration of Governor Godwin Obaseki.
Speaking on the state government’s plans to control erosion, Adams said in the next two months, all the paperwork would be done, and work would commence.
According to the commissioner, “As a follow-up, you know, the major problem we are facing in this very particular period is flooding and erosion control.
“And we have some notorious spots. But His Excellency has also followed up with the European Union Investment Bank, and has paid the counterpart funding, which, of course, Edo State is one of the states that have promptly paid the counterpart funding sources as to continue the Benin Storm Water Project, which was thwarted by the last administration.
“Now that we have paid our counterpart funding, in the next two months or so, the second phase and, of course, the last phase of the comprehensive storm project of Benin metropolis will have commenced.” Adams reassured.
He added that the project would “link up with Tomline, Siluko Road, and Ekewan Road. I can assure you that flooding and erosion problems will be a thing of the past in those areas.”
Also speaking, Prince Kassim Afegbua, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, said that the state government also planed to carry out a massive reclamation of the Government Reserved Area with drainage to deflood the area into Ogba River.