Anambra State Secures EIB Support for Erosion Control, Degradation Project

Anambra State has been officially designated as one of the beneficiaries of the European Investment Bank’s (EIB) initiative to combat erosion and land degradation across Nigeria, effective from 2024. This intervention will be launched under the Nigeria Climate Adaptation Erosion and Watershed Project (NEWMAP-EIB), following the state’s remittance of a 500 million naira counterpart fund, paid by Governor Chukwuma Soludo in 2024.

Engineer Anda Ayuba-Yalaks, the National Project Coordinator of NEWMAP-EIB, announced the program during a collaborative assessment visit with the Federal Project Management Unit. He noted that the objective is to develop long-term strategies for sustainable land degradation management and to empower the state project management unit to expedite project implementation.

Yalaks emphasized that the team will conduct on-site assessments at five selected erosion sites, including Ndi Agu Ikenga Ogidi, Nkpor Flyover, Ugamuma Obosi, and Abagana. He recognized the governor’s commitment to the initiative by providing the necessary counterpart funding and discussed best practices to address the erosion challenges.

Welcoming the NEWMAP-EIB team earlier, Anambra State Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Felix Odimegwu, highlighted the mission’s purpose, stating it involves evaluating the state’s readiness for participation, conducting preliminary and detailed studies of identified erosion sites, and securing additional funding from the EIB.

Dr. Odimegwu expressed gratitude to the NEWMAP-EIB team for selecting Anambra as a key beneficiary, noting that environmental degradation has severely impacted the state, destroying property and diminishing landmass. He assured the team of his administration’s full support for the successful execution of the project.

Professor Philip Phil-Eze, Anambra State Project Coordinator for NEWMAP-EIB, pointed out the Federal Government’s directive to prioritize ongoing erosion sites previously unsupported by the World Bank before addressing new locations, underlining Governor Soludo’s recognition of erosion as a critical threat.

Community stakeholders, including Chief Chigozie Etuga of Ndi Agu Ikenga Ogidi and Ifeanyi Obieze of Ugamuma Obosi, whose homes have been affected by erosion, shared their distressing experiences and expressed their commitment to facilitating the project’s success.

The three-day visit culminated in a ceremony where Dr. Odimegwu presented a plaque of recognition to the NEWMAP-EIB team, honoring their exceptional leadership and dedication to advancing the project and addressing pressing environmental challenges since 2023.