Environment Minister Visits Anambra, says FG’s commitment to ending erosion menace nationwide

The Minister of State for Environment, Ibrahim Usman Jibril, yesterday reiterated the federal government’s commitment to ending erosion menace in the affected states of the federation. He said that serious actions are currently being taken to ensure that the affected areas, especially the worst hit states are giving sound remedial measures.
The minister stated this while declaring open, the on-going one week training programme on Catchment Management Planning of the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP), being organized in collaboration with the World Bank. The event, holding at Best Western Mellock Hotel, Awka, involves participants from seven states of the federation including Anambra, Enugu, Imo, Abia, Ebonyi, Cross River and Edo.
He disclosed that the government is applying the holistic systematic approach in dealing with erosion which is well known all over the world in order to achieve the desired target.
“We have the best standard; the global best practice because this money is not for free. It is a loan taken from the World Bank and we have to pay back. And in paying back, government has to go to large extent to follow the best practice that is common everywhere in the world.”
Ibrahim, who visited erosion site being handled by NEWMAP at Amachalla village, Awka, blamed harmful environmental practices as the major causes of erosion in the country even as he lauded her for a job so far done.
“There is need for people to know the causes of erosion such as harmful agricultural practices like bush burning, deforestation, incessant sand mining without regulation and the rest of them. There is need for sensitization.”
While commending NEWMAP, the minister said that the “beauty of it is that it’s not only restricting itself to the bioremediation or reclaiming of the land but even the road construction was factored into this project. So, NEWMAP is bringing a new concept; it’s getting us into a holistic approach to tackle erosion menace, not only in the South East but the entire country. So I am impressed with what I have seen so far.”
In his speech, the Project Coordinator of NEWMAP, Anambra State, Michael Ivenso, maintained that the body would leave no stone unturned in their guided efforts target at winning the war against erosion in the state.