By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
In his determination to address severe gully erosion problems bedeviling parts of Gombe State, Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya has approved the immediate release of Five hundred million Naira ( N 500,000, 000) as state’s counterpart contribution to access funds from World Bank for gully erosion control project in the state under the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP).
This was made known in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant
( Media and Publicity), Ismaila Uba Misilli.
The payment of the counterpart funds will help in accessing funds from World Bank and facilitating the process of addressing distressing gully erosion problems in the short term, reduce vulnerability to soil erosion and climate variability in the medium term, and promote long-term climate resilience and low carbon development in the state.
In effect, the fund will assist the state in controlling some gullies ravaging some areas, including the Gombe State University, Federal College of Education (Technical), East of Gombe International Hotel – Behind Gombe State House of Assembly, Wuro Bajoga-Bogo and East of Kumo General Hospital – Jauro Tukur gully systems which were all approved by the World Bank.
According to the NEWMAP Project Coordinator for Gombe State, Engr. Mohammed Garba, already detailed engineering work has commenced while establishment of wood lot- orchard plantation which is a component of the project, is underway in 9 Local Government Areas of the state.
NEWMAP is a state-led project, in partnership with the World Bank and is designed to support the drive to achieve greater environmental and economic security.
The project takes an integrated watershed management approach to erosion that will address the interlink challenges of poverty, ecosystem services, climate change, disaster risk management, biodiversity, institutional capacity and governance.
