Business
Minister Decries Low Budgetary Allocation …Says It’s Inadequate To Tackle Abia Erosion

The Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani, says budget allocation to his ministry is not enough to treat the gully erosion in Umunneochi community in Nkwoagu-Isuochi Local Government Area of Abia State.
Usani stated this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja yesterday.
He said that the extent of the erosion was serious enough to attract that intervention of the Ecological Fund Office or concerned international organizations, stressing that “If there is anything beyond international we will request.
“Actually this measure of project I am certain, long or short would not be limited to a ministry intervention.
“It is massive enough to attract the attention of ecological fund office and I think the community can make such efforts.
“It is too massive to think of just a ministry’s allocation, because even if you want to put the entire ministry’s budget here you may not be able to handle it effectively.
“So I think we will discuss that with the community leaders and relevant agencies.’’
He said the landslide was caused by improper termination of a drainage system by a construction company handling an uncompleted road project, which the ministry awarded to it in 2010.
The minister, however, promised to seek professional counsel from the ministry’s department of engineering on the best way to address the erosion problem.
He expressed displeasure at the erosion on parts of the road linking Abia with Umueze in Anambra.
Usani said it was regrettable that the company contracted to rehabilitate the site in 2010 had not lived up to expectations.
According to him it is pathetic that there is nothing to show for a job that should have impacted positively on the lives of the people in the area over the years.
The minister blamed the disappointment being experienced to the inability of the agency that awarded the contract to monitor the contract execution.
He, however, promised to liaise with the management of the Niger Delta Development Commission to ensure palliative measures were implemented at erosion sites in the area to reduce the danger on roads.