The World Bank in collaboration with the Federal Government has earmarked about N1.7 billion to tackle some environmental challenges in Imo State.
Task Team Leader and Senior Environmental Specialist of the World Bank Assisted Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP), Dr. Amos Ambu, accompanied by some World Bank officials, disclosed this yesterday while on a visit to Governor Rochas Okorocha, at the Government House, Owerri.
The World Bank official said they were in the state to inspect some ongoing erosion work at various sites.
He mentioned the erosion sites such as Eziala Ubi, Ihioma, Umunache, Ogboko, Njaba, Isu and urged the cooperation of all stakeholders in executing and handling environmental challenges of the state.
“The World Bank and the Federal Government are interested in tackling the environmental challenges of Imo people. This requires the cooperation of all,” he noted.
The Task Team Leader said the bank was interested in immediate tackling of the erosion sites in Umueshi, Ihioma, and Ezeala Obizi in order to make rural dwellers in the affected devastated sites happy.
Speaking, Okorocha urged the World Bank to increase the level of intervention in the state. He called for the attention of the institution in the Nekede, Owerri West Local Council erosion site and the Umuapu Ohaji/Egbema Port Harcourt Road, among others, noting that Imo state was prone to erosion challenges because of its topography. (The Guardian)
