Government News Source, 29 June 2020
Cross River State Government has began the Needs Assessment Survey on erosion prone communities across the eighteen Local Government Areas of the state in a bid to address the menace of the State's Erosion Crisis NEGROIDHAVEN has garnered.
Speaking at various sites during an inspection of the survey on erosion prone communities across the state, the Commissioner for International Development Cooperation, Dr Inyang Asibong, said the efforts was to reduce erosion-induced challenges in Cross River State.
Accompanied by the Project Supervisor, Cross River State Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (CRS- NEWMAP) Mr Fidelis Anukwa, Asibong opined that the renewed efforts approved by Governor Ben Ayade was aimed at remediate works at the erosion sites in most part of the state as the rainy season begins.
The Commissioner said the asessment will be followed with the job implementation with key emphasis on engaging the local Communities with skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled labour as part of Professor Ben Ayade's "Opportunity for All" Policy.
"We have been to Bekwarra, Ogoja, Boki, Ikom, Odukpani, Akpabuyo, and Bakassi Local Government Areas in this phase, to mark areas where we would either construct or renovate bridges and flood drains to ensure that the intensity of this year’s rainfall does not affect the settlers in these areas”, she added.
The CRS-NEWMAP Project Supervisor, Mr Fidelis Anukwa explained on the State Government’s readiness to commence work once the needs assessment survey is completed across the State.
The main objective of the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) is to reduce vulnerability to soil erosion in targeted sub-catchments, and to ensure communities enjoy the benefits of the interventions.
