The Ugoani of Okpanam Kingdom, HRM Dr. Michael Mbanefo Ogbolu (JP), has applauded the Delta State Government for partnering with the European Investment Bank (EIB) to commence engineering and civil work intervention in his domain.
The traditional ruler gave the commendation when he received, in audience, the management team of the Delta State Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project – EIB (Delta State NEWMAP), led by the Project Coordinator, Mr. Benedict Nwaokocha, who was in his Palace to brief the Ugoani the preparedness of the agency towards the commencement of the engineering design works and other environmental studies in Amachai/Ogbeozoma and Mable Hill Erosion Sites, preparatory to civil engineering works in the community.
The monarch said that there was no denying the fact that the MORE agenda mantra of the Governor Sheriff Oborevwori administration in the state was on course to add value to governance towards a sustainable environment and improved infrastructural and socio-economic development of the state.
He noted that the triumphant entry of the state government erosion rehabilitation agency into Okpanam Community located in the heart of the Asaba Capital Territory was a welcome development to indigenes and residents who have suffered the erosion menace in the community for ages.
The monarch who extolled the magnanimity of the state government to the community for the completion of some network of roads and storm water drainage projects, assured the full cooperation of his subjects for the effective operation of the agency in the community.
He said the community would extend their support to the agency in terms of security, provision of assistance on issue(s) of Project Affected Persons (PAP) whose property may be affected in the course of channelization of storm water, as well as appealing to the agency to ensure would-be contractors adopt local content quota by engaging the youth of the community in the course of project implementation.
“In your statement, you informed us that your team is here for familiarization tour aimed at combating erosion and gully and after this familiarization exercise, your consultants would moved in to determine the cost of the projects and in the same manner determined areas to be affected in Amachai/Ogbeozoma and Mable Hill.
Of course, some property may give way for effective channelization of flood; this would involve full cooperation from both side of the devide where compensation would be paid. As a community, we assure you of our full cooperation. We will assist you to appeal to those that their property would be destroyed to cave in for compensation for the good of the society and for the realization of goals of government”.
The State Project Coordinator of Delta NEWMAP – EIB, Mr. Benedict Nwaokocha, informed Ugoani that the state government under the watch of the Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, has graciously empowered the agency by approving counterpart funding for the commencement of preliminary works, including Engineering Designs, Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP), Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) and among other studies, preparatory to the commencement of civil engineering works in the aforementioned erosion sites in the community.
He said this approval by the Governor through the Honourable Commissioner, Delta State Ministry of Environment, Mr. Ejiro Tommy Jamani, was a mandate to the erosion agency to enter the community to kick-start the process for the commencement of preliminary works in the affected erosion sites.
According to him, the preliminary studies of the projects starting with the award of Engineering Designs Consultancy to competent firm are being funded by the state government through the release of counterpart funding by the state governor whose interest lies on the infrastructural and socio-economic development of Okpanam Community, as the Project await the funding of the partnering European Investment Bank.
While calling on the community to complement the effort of the state government through security provision, Mr. Nwaokocha, sought the cooperation of the community for the constitution of Community Association and Site Committees within the residents residing along the erosion corridors to work with the Safeguards Unit of Delta NEWMAP as the preliminary works of the Project Commences.
