Enugu Erosion Control Project Unveiled

Christopher Isiguzo in Enugu

Ten years after it was abandoned, the multi-million naira, Federal Government erosion control project in Udi local government area, Enugu state has been completed and unveiled.

The Obinagu /Akpulu/Enugueze-Umunneobagu Soil Erosion and Control Project Phase 1, executed through the Ecological Fund office had suffered several delays before it was completed late last year.

Speaking at the official unveiling ceremony of the project in Obinagu recently, the Director General of Voice of Nigeria (VON), Mr. Osita Okechukwu said the commissioning and handing over of the project was made possible by President Muhammadu Buhari’s anti-corruption war.

Okechukwu, who represented the Secretary to Federal Government, Babachir Lawal, recalled that the project which began over seven years ago, suffered some delays as a result of logistic problems, difficulty of the terrain and unbridled corruption, but was successfully completed late 2016.

“Today marks a milestone in the history of Ecological Fund Office (EFO) as we commission the Obinagu/Akpulu/Enugueze-Umunneobagu Soil Erosion and Control Project, a product of President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to finish all abandoned projects.

“It is pertinent to observe that this project is among the 15 ecological projects in the South-east geo-political zone initiated by the Federal Ministry of Environment inherited by the present regime which received Presidential approval and was funded by EFO. This project, which began over 10 years ago, suffered some delays as a result of logistic problems, difficulty of the terrain and unbridled corruption, however was successfully completed late 2016.

“This commissioning/handing over of the project could not be done earlier than now, because of the reasons stated above. Glory be to God that it could be said that without President Buhari’s raging war against corruption this commissioning and handing over ceremony may not be taking place today,” the VON DG said.

Okechukwu thanked Mr. President, SGF Lawal, Enugu State Government and by extension the governor, Hon Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi; Chairman Udi LGA, Ecological Fund Office of Federal Ministry of Environment, the contractor, Messrs Nostro Ventures Ltd and the consultant, Messrs Carsul Ltd for immense contributions and cooperation during the execution and eventual completion of the project.

He called on the beneficial communities – Obinagu, Akpulu, Enugueze- Umunneobagu to guard the project jealously by ensuring that the drainages are kept clean and devoid of dumping of refuse.

Responding, the Commissioner for Water Resources, Enugu State, Chief Charles Egumgbe, thanked the federal government for executing the erosion control project in Obinagu, saying it was in line with the efforts of the State government to ensure that people living in erosion prone areas do no suffer.

Making remarks, the contractor, Uche Dick Usouwa of Nostro Ventures Limited recalled that the contract was awarded to his company in 2010 but work started in 2011 and was completed late 2016.

Usouwa explained that the specification for the contract was to control flood erosion by constructing drainages and roads but they discovered that there was no natural water to channel the water into.

The contractor said it would have been of no use doing the project without a pit and so, they included something like this to collect the water. He said mindful of the fact that the job was being done in Igboland, it was executed above specification using precast, instead of ‘in situ’ as stated in the contract papers.