By PATRICK ABANG, Calabar –
The World Bank in collaboration with the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Project (NEWMAP) have warned against the indiscriminate dumping of refuse in drainage and other illegal sand mining in Cross River State.
The communities which includes, Atakpa, Ikot Anwantim, Nyangasang, Lemna/ Federal Agriculture, Ikot Ekpo and Edim Otop gully erosion sites were known in the past to engage in activities that degrades the environment.
The state NEWMAP Communication Officer, Mrs Affiong Ita, gave the advised during the handing over ceremony of the sites to the communities for ownership. The event took place at Ikot Ekpo site in 8Miles, Calabar Municipal LGA.
Mrs. Affiong said despite warnings, some persons in the community are still mining sand which she said is undermining the good work.
She said: “we are very lucky with these sites that are completed, the people should be very appreciative. We have seen that residents are dumpling refuse into the drainages of these sites that are just completed, you will see where they are doing sand mining.
“Clan heads, residents of these communities, we are pleading with you, form a vigilante, let them look into the problems of sand mining because as we have worked to that level and those activities will undermine this work and something more devastating will happen.” She lamented.
Earlier while commissioning the Ikot Ekpo site and handing over, the Commissioner, Ministry of International Development Cooperation, Inyang Asibong, urged the communities to jealously guide the sites by ensuring that refuse are not dumped in the drainages.
He said: “Having successful completed work on the six sites, it is therefore imperative for the project to handover the sites to the relevant stakeholders and end users for maintenance and Sustainability.
“It is worthy to note that enormous government resources have sunk into the project, It behoves on the relevant stakeholders to jealously guide the sites and ensure that refuse are not dumped into the drains as this will undermine the work already carried out.
The commissioner, who also doubles as the Project Coordinator, however commended the state governor, Senator Ben Ayade for providing the counter part funding and also the World bank for it support.
Also speaking, the State Head of Service (HoS), Ogbang Akwaji, commended NEWMAP for completion of the sites and also the State Accountant General for releasing the fund for the project.
He also charged them to protect the sites, saying, ” the residents in various communities, it is your responsibility to ensure that what has been done is protected by all of you. Use your esteem position especially our royal fathers to educate the people so that they can take care of the project sites.
Speaking on behalf of the six communities, the Chairman of Ikot Ekpo Development Association, Victor Odor said: “we want to thank God almighty for making this project completed. It was a pitiful sites if you were here in the past years to see how people were living with fear especially during the rains.
” But thank God for NEWMAP, world bank, we have a new hope. We have a good tarred road with drainage systems.”
DISCLAIMER
The OPINION / COLUMN is authored by independent contributors to the National Accord Newspaper. While contributors adhere to our editorial guidelines, they are not employed by the National Accord Newspaper. The perspectives and opinions expressed herein are solely those of the author and do not represent the views of the National Accord Newspaper or its staff.
Leave a Reply