State Govts Advised to Establish Agencies to Combat Menace of Erosion

Michael Olugbode in Abuja

State governments have been advised to establish Erosion Management Agency (EMA) in their domain to tackle the menace of erosion.

Speaking at the Valedictory Dinner and Award Night for the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP), the National Coordinator of the Project jointly sponsored by the World Bank and the federal government in collaboration with 23 state governments, Dr. Salisu Dahiru said it is time for the states to take their destiny in their hands as the World Bank assisted project is winding up after about 10 years.

Dahiru while revealing that eight of the twenty-three benefiting states have risen up to the challenge of the international monetary organisation exiting from the project, said for the other states not to lose track and from the gains of the project, they should quickly bring together the technical assistance in the form of manpower trained and infrastructure benefited from the project to establish an EMA   that would tackle the menace of erosion.

He said: “Out of 23 participating states, eight states of Enugu, Anambra, Katsina, Kogi, Sokoto, Delta, Edo, Kano, have established erosion management agencies, it is time for others to join the train.”

He added that: “As part of sustainable measures, 8 agencies for Erosion and Watershed Management established to guide and implement future activities on erosion control stormwater management, other states are gearing towards fully establishing respective agencies.”