Erosion Control: Edo, NEWMAP begin compensation exercise

The Edo State Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (Edo NEWMAP) has commenced payment of compensation to about 49 persons who were affected by an erosion control project in Ogiso-Osunde community, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of the state.

Speaking during the presentation of cheques to the beneficiaries in Benin City, Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, said the Ogiso-Osunde flood control project was among several other intervention projects executed by Edo NEWMAP in the past 6 years.

The governor who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Taiwo Akerele, said the Community Oversight Committees, Grievance Redress Desk and other safeguard measures will be put in place to ensure smooth implementation of the project.

He noted, “The Edo NEWMAP will constitute community oversight committees that will assist in third-party monitoring of the project so they can escalate issues that might arise from the execution of the project.”

In his remarks, Project Coordinator, Edo NEWMAP, Dr. Tom Obaseki, said the intervention was designed to permanently tackle the flood and gully erosion in Ogiso-Osunde community.

He said the contractor handling the project would commence work as soon as the payment of compensation to affected persons is concluded, adding, “Engineering design has been done. The community has been briefed about the intervention and a contractor has being engaged to do the work.”

Dr. Tom added that two major underground tunnels would take flood in Ogiso-Osunde through 3rd East Circular axis of Benin City to Ikpoba River.