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Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP), says it’s executing about N18 billion gully erosion and flood management projects in 11 communities of Edo.

Mr Tom Obaseki, the Project Coordinator, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Benin.

Obaseki mentioned the projects which attained varied levels of completion were spread across the three senatorial districts of the state.

He listed the projects in Edo South District to include the Gapiona catchment area; Edo College, Ogiso and Urora areas gully erosion in addition to flood control in Benin.

Others are Ewu; Ibore, Emu and Ambrose Alli University (AAU) gully erosion control in Edo Central District, whereas in Edo North District, flood control is being carried out at Igbe quarters as well as erosion control at Fugar and Agenebode.

The Coordinator said that eight of the projects were awarded in 2019, adding that the projects had between 18 and 24 months completion period.

Obaseki stressed that funding challenge would not pose problem to the delivery of the projects, as the state government had not failed in its responsibility in the payment of counterpart fund for the World Bank’s projects.

Obaseki said in addition to solving the erosion challenges in the affected communities, the project intervention also focus on providing alternative livelihood to the people.

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Obaseki revealed that about 2,600 families had so far benefited from the programme in the state.

He said that 109 gully erosion sites were identified and documented in the state, noting that 90 per cent of the gullies were man made.