World Bank To Tackle Erosion In Anambra

The World Bank is to adopt new technologies to provide permanent solution to erosion and landslide problems in Anambra State, an official of the bank, Dr. Amos Abu, has said.

Abu, who led the Bank’s team on erosion and watershed management to Awka, told Gov. Peter Obi on Wednesday that they were in the state with some technical experts from Norway, to begin the reclamation of affected areas, including Omagba and Nanka.

He said that the intervention would transform the sites by not only stabilising the gullies but also putting in place permanent measures to preempt recurrence.

Abu noted that the design for the sites were ready, saying also that the recent review conducted by the bank had placed the state ahead of the seven states where the erosion intervention programme would take place.

Responding, Obi said that sustaining the environment was fundamental to the state’s drive to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The governor said the administration was adopting a holistic approach in tackling the menace and would continue to collaborate with the Bank to achieve the set goals.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Environment in the state, Dr Michael Egbebike said the visit followed a distressed call by the governor, after the devastating landslide that occurred at Omagba.

Egbebike added that the team had visited some other sites to assess the situation, stressing that the state had declared total war on erosion menace.