250 affected persons get compensation cheques from Kogi State NEWMAP for Adumu Gully Erosion control »

250 persons affected by the ongoing construction work at Adumu Gully Erosion sites in Ogugu, Olamaboro Local Government Area of Kogi State have been issued with compensation cheques by the state government through Nigeria Erosion Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP).

The cheques were issued on Wednesday in Ogugu at an elaborate occasion that witnessed the convergence of several notable indigenes of the area, Kogi State government and NEWMAP officials.

The Chief of Staff to Kogi State Governor, Hon. Edward Onoja, who spoke on behalf of Governor Yahaya Bello expressed gratitude to the community for their patience over the project adding that it was for the development of the area.

Hon Onoja stated that the present administration in the state is sincerely concerned about the plight of the people, adding that there was the need for them to have faith in the ability of the Governor to touch their lives positively.

He said the Governor has demonstrated that capacity through several developmental projects he has executed in the community since his assumption of office, and made practical example of the brand new road project passing through the community from Ibana through Okpo up to Etteh.

Onoja also mentioned that the people of the area enjoyed so much other developmental projects under Governor Bello including water and human capital development, hence the need for the people to give unalloyed support to the Governor.

While urging beneficiaries to make judicious use of the money to support their businesses and livelihood, Onoja called on Kogi NEWMAP to kick start the project in earnest as it was meant to make life more meaningful for the people.

The Coordinator, Kogi State NEWMAP, Barr Ladi Jatto, had earlier informed beneficiaries that contractors would move in immediately to avoid some of them from going back to the area even after collecting the compensations.

Barr Ladi stressed that the people of Adumu community were lucky to benefit from the intervention, saying many vulnerable communities in the state had been yearning for the same opportunity.

She urged the community to cooperate with the contractor that had been mobilised to site for the civil work, noting that all persons affected by the project were captured by a World Bank certified consultant.

On his part, the State Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Alhaji Sanusi Yahaya, thanked the state government for the payment of its counterpart fund of N900 million for erosion control in the state.

While attributing the event as historic and symbolic, Yahaya emphasised that the agency would immediately move into the site to remedy the degradation.

On his part, the Ejeh Olamaboro, Chief Simeon Ujah expressed gratitude to the state government, World Bank, NEWMAP for bringing the community to limelight with her project to lift the community out of erosion menace.

The member representing Olamaboro State Constituency in the state House of Assembly, Hon Anthony Ujah thanked the state government, World bank, NEWMAP for bringing such project to his constituency lifting his people out of erosion menace that has been in existence since when he was born and further pledge his constituency unflinching support to Gov. Yahaya Bello re-election bid.

Mrs Rachael Adejoh, who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries, expressed appreciation to the state government and NEWMAP for fulfilling their promise,assuring that they would utilize the money given to them judiciously.