Oyo State Governor, Engineer Seyi
Makinde, on Thursday announced the approval of the sum of N500 million as
counterpart funding for the World Bank-supported Nigeria Erosion and Watershed
Management Project (NEWMAP) in the State.
The project is to enhance the control and prevention of flood, erosion and
natural disasters across the nooks and crannies of Oyo State.
Governor Makinde, who made the disclosure while inaugurating the steering
committee on the NEWMAP, said that the Federal Government will also release
$5million as counterpart fund.
A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Makinde, Mr. Taiwo
Adisa, quoted the Governor as charging the committee to judiciously utilise the
funds within the time frame of the project.
He stated that the target was to end flooding, erosion and other natural
disasters in the State within the duration of the Project, which is expected to
last for 18 months.
He said: “The NEWMAP programme, even though it started in 2013, Oyo State
Government did not get admitted into that programme as a participant until
2015. The Government of the State at that time also did not walk its talk by
providing the seed fund needed to see the programme through. But the present
administration has demonstrated commitment to the NEWMAP programme to the tune
of 500million Naira, which has been provided.
“I am happy with the report that was presented to me that the World Bank
Task Team and the Federal Government are ready to provide a matching grant to
the tune of 5million U.S Dollars. The programme is time-bound and it’s going to
end on June 30th, 2021. So, we barely have 18 months to do this.
“I know free erosion sites have been identified. People from Iseyin going
to Ado-Awaye and others within that axis have seen pictures of erosion sites
and bridges being cut into two and communities not being able to access other
communities freely. We have to work fast and that is why it is important for
these committees to be inaugurated. So, I want to say that the fund for this
programme has to be judiciously utilised and we should not spend a lot of time
in fighting ourselves.
“It is a lot of work ahead of these various committees. I do know that you
are all up to the task.”
The Steering Committee is chaired by the Commissioner for Environment and
Natural Resources, Rt. Honourable Kehinde Ayoola, with the Permanent
Secretaries of the Ministries of Lands, Finance, Works and Transport,
Agriculture and Rural Development, Budget and Economic Planning as well as
representatives from Local Governments as members.
The inauguration ceremony had in attendance the Deputy Governor, Rauf Olaniyan;
Secretary to the State Government, Mrs Olubamiwo Adeosun; Chief of Staff, Chief
Bisi Ilaka; commissioners and other appointees.
It would be recalled that the lawmaker representing
Iseyin/Kajola/Itesiwaju/Iwajowa Federal constituency in the Federal House of
Representatives, Hon. Shina Peller, had on July 12, 2019 presented a report to
Governor Makinde on the flooding in Kajola Local Government Area, which claimed
lives and properties.
