The Cross River State Nigeria Erosion Watershed Management Project (CRS-NEWMAP) has commenced the verification exercise to ensure adequate compensation for people whose structures fall within the circumference of the civil works for ongoing erosion remediation projects in the State, as they complete modalities for the Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) and Implementation.
The Acting Project Coordinator and Commissioner for International Development Corporation in the State, Dr Inyang Asibong on Thursday, urged the verification team to be diligent and steadfast in the discharge of their duties whilst they ensure accurate data collation.
She said a key objective of the CRS-NEWMAP is to improve the livelihood of affected persons and lessen the devastating effect of the gully erosion menace.
The Commissioner, during a workshop organised by the CRS-NEWMAP Management in Calabar to sensitize communities on waste management and erosion prevention, goaded benefiting communities of the World Bank assisted projects to take ownership and guide the projects jealously.
She frowned at the indiscriminate dumping of refuse in drains causing erosion and also reducing the effectiveness of the erosion control measures in some areas, whilst harping on the need to activate local waste management task force to checkmate this uncivil behavior.
One of the benefiting communities of the projects, Ikot Ekpo Community, commended the Governor Ben Ayade led administration for the various interventions across the State which has now gone beyond erosion and waste management to include the provision of portable drinking water, renovation of classroom blocks and provision of street lights. They took turns to assure a full ownership of the projects for optimal utilization and protection.
The verification exercise was carried out at the latest intervention sites of Ikot Uduak and Ikot Effanga Mkpa in Calabar Municipality, Itate in Yala LGA, and Igaba in Obudu LGA.
Also present at the activity were the State Auditor- General, Comrade John Odey, the Special Adviser on Audit, Mr Efem Eja and the SSA on NEWMAP, Mr Francis Agaba amongst others.
