Erosion: Oshiomhole Okays Jonathan’s Quick Response

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo has commended President Goodluck Jonathan for acting promptly on a recent erosion problem in the state.

The governor said that it was gladdening that the president sent the Minister of Environment, Mr John Odey, at short notice to assess the erosion problem, which cut off two communities in Auchi area of Edo.

A statement signed by Mr Peter Okhiria, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, said the governor made the commendation in Benin on Friday when the minister paid him a courtesy call on his way to the erosion site

He explained that the governor visited the president to draw his attention to the situation, adding, “President Jonathan has demonstrated that he is a man of action’’.

“We visited the president in Abuja where we told him of the erosion problems in the state and on Friday, he has directed the minister to take action.

“We are excited that he took us seriously by his quick intervention,” Oshiomhole said, adding, “this is the kind of action that Nigerians want.”

 He said that apart from the recent erosion problem that cut off two communities in Auchi, erosion was also threatening a community at Queen Ede in Benin City, where a church building and a farmland had been washed away.

Earlier, the minister said he was directed by the president to inspect the portion of the road in Auchi where erosion cut off the two communities.

“President Goodluck Jonathan insisted we inspect it and treat the problem as an emergency”, he said, adding that the Ecological Fund Office would handle the project.

He promised that the project would be treated as an emergency.