NEWMAP hands over 6 rehabilitation gully erosion sites to communities in Calabar, government warns against dumping of waste
The residents of Ikot Uduak erosion sites in Calabar have lamented over the non-completion of remediation work carried out by the contractor hired by Cross River State Erosion and Watershed Management (NEWMAP).
A leader in the community who spoke on condition of anonymity with LENS Reporter on Sunday said with the perennial rain still ongoing, most of the tenants occupying buildings in the area cannot drive in or out of their houses due to the collapse of the drainage as laterite on the roads has been washed away resulting in artificial gullies.
Meanwhile, the project coordinator who doubles as the commissioner for International cooperation in the state, Dr. Inyang Asibong has issued a strong warning to residents of erosion-prone areas in Calabar metropolis and other towns in the state to desist from blocking drainages.
She frowned as well at the rate residents transform drainages across the streets into dumpsites when it rains rather than making use of waste bins placed at strategic locations by the Ministry of environment.
Dr. Asibong spoke when NEWMAP handed over six rehabilitated gully erosion sites to community leaders from the intervention beneficiary areas in Atakpa, Ikot Anwantim, Nyangasang, Lema-Federal Agriculture, Ikot Ekpo, and Edim Otop in Calabar Municipality and Calabar South Council Areas on Saturday, September 10, 2022.
The communities that benefited from the erosion control intervention projects were challenged to take responsibility for the projects within their domains to avoid devastating consequences and cautioned Stakeholders to jealously guard the sites and ensure that refuse is not dumped into the drains as this will undermine the work already done.
The Chairman of Ikot Ekpo Development Association, Dr. Victor Odo recalled with nostalgia the state of the gullies before the advent of NEWMAP and assured that measures would be put in place to discourage the dumping of refuse into the drains by residents.
By: Archibong Emmanuel
(Snr. Reporter)
