July 1, (THEWILL)- The Kogi State government has commenced the presentation of Cheques to compensate households to be affected by the execution of Omigbo Gully Erosion project in Kabba.
The Commissioner for Environment and Ecological Management, Engr. Oluwasegun Joseph, flagged off the cheque presentation on behalf of the Governor, Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo, at the weekend in Omigbo, Kabba Local Government Area.
According to him, the gesture marks a significant milestone in the state government’s efforts to combat erosion and flooding by addressing the long standing ecological challenges in the community. He reiterated the present administration’s commitment to environmental sustainability and ecological management. He noted that the state government in collaboration with the federal government had secured a facility from the World Bank ACReSAL Project, to address erosion menace in Omigbo and other communities in the state.
The commissioner commended the governor for his leadership and commitment to continuity in governance, saying the N600 million counterpart contribution to the ACReSAL Project was a testament to his dedication to the cause. He further appreciated the State Project Coordinator, Chief (Barr.) Ladi Ahmed Jatto, and her team for their dedication and hard work in ensuring the successful implementation of the project. The commissioner acknowledged their tireless efforts in addressing the ecological challenges and ensuring environmental sustainability in the Kogi state
He, however urged the community to cooperate with the contractor to ensure a smooth and timely delivery of the project Earlier, the Project Coordinator, expressed excitement and gratitude to the state government, the World Bank, and the Federal Government for the partnership. She noted the project’s objectives was to address poverty, low literacy, conflict, natural resource degradation, poor agricultural productivity, climate risks, desertification, and weak institutional capacity in northern Nigeria. Jatto commended the governor for his environmental leadership and commitment to the project, especially in the prompt approval of additional N600 million as counterpart funds.
She further commended the governor for the community revolving fund loan scheme, which had benefited 106 individuals in the catchment area. She urged project-affected persons to use the compensation money wisely and to vacate the gully corridor within the given timeframe. She encouraged those whose houses were not captured to see the intervention as an opportunity for an upgrade, stressing that the project would bring significant growth to the area.
The project coordinator disclosed that the next phase of the project would involve a visit to Ankpa and Olamaboro Local Government Areas for the purposes of validation, documentation, and the disbursement of compensation payments to affected individuals.
Traditional and state leaders, including the Obaro of Kabba, Oba Solomon Owoniyi, State Commissioner for Education, Hon. Wemi Jones, and Caretaker of Kabba Bunnu Local Government, Hon. Dare Zacchaeus, commended the state government for its efforts in addressing the ecological challenges in the state.
They urged the community to support the project and cooperate with the contractor to ensure its successful completion.
The beneficiaries in their various comments, appreciated the state government, ACReSAL and the federal government for their efforts in addressing the long-standing ecological challenges in Omigbo.
They expressed their appreciation for the compensation and the opportunities that the project would bring to their community
They pledged to cooperate with the contractor and the project team to ensure the successful completion of the project
The highlight of the occasion was the presentation of cheques to the project-affected persons.
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