Project
By Ebere Agozie
Awlaw (Enugu), May 22, 2018 (NAN) The Federal Government on Tuesday in Enugu inaugurated and handed over a completed Gully Erosion Control and Flood Improvement site to the people of Awlaw community, Oji-River Local Government Area of Enugu State.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the project was executed by the Ecological Fund Office (EFO).
Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Environment inaugurated the project.
Tinubu said the project was in fulfilment of President Muhammadu Buhari’s promise that no part of the country would suffer any neglect owing to its geographical location or political consideration.
“To further consolidate the gains of this giant stride, the Federal Government’s completion of this project has demonstrated the president’s commitment to addressing problems confronting various communities across the country.’’
She said that the successful completion of the project would go a long way in enhancing economic activities and the general well-being of Awlaw community and its environs.
In his remarks, Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi thanked EFO for the laudable project, adding that it would help to stabilise the socio-economic activities of the community.
The governor called on the people of the community to cherish, protect and prevent indiscriminate dumping of refuse in the constructed drainage channels to ensure sustainability.
Earlier, Mr Felix Okeke, the Director of Erosion and Flood Control in EFO, said the Awlaw project was one of the first phase of 53 projects completed by EFO awarded between May 15, 2015 and Dec. 2017.
He said that the project was initiated through a request for urgent intervention to address gully erosion and flooding that had been threatening the lives and properties of the people of the community.
Responding, Mr Geoffrey Tabansi, the former President of the Awlaw Development Union thanked Buhari for initiating and completing the project.
Tabansi said that the state of erosion menace in Awlaw was so bad that some parts of the town were not accessible, particularly the road leading to Nduagu section of Ubaha Awake Autonomous Community.
He also appealed to the President to award the second place of the project in order to check the massive developing erosion toward the Mmam River at Nkwu and Umudunwanyi sections of the community.
According to Tabansi, the two communities have also been cut off by the Civil War broken Bridge from access road to Isuochi, Abia State and Okigwe in Imo.
He said that erosion had caused havoc in these places and also damaged the only source of drinking water from the Ngele-Ogugara stream. (NAN)
EPA/EEE
=======
Edited by Ese E. Ekama