Governor Makinde Inaugurates NEWMAP, Releases N500m Counterpart Fund To End Flood And Erosion In Oyo State

By Henry Odeh

The Oyo state government as a proactive approach to curb flooding and erosion ravaging communities across the state during raining season, has released its counterpart fund to the world bank assisted project in Oyo state.

Governor Makinde made this disclosure during the composition and inauguration of State Steering Committee for the World Bank Supported Nigeria Project On Erosion And Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) which held on Thursday at the executive chamber of the governor’s office, secretariat, Ibadan.

The governor stated that Oyo state was not part of the program until 2015 and the last administration under former governor Abiola Ajimobi did not walk its talk by providing the needed seed fund as a counterpart to see the program through.

He noted that the present administration has demonstrated the commitment to the program as a counterpart to the tune of N500Million (five hundred million naira) which according to him has already been provided by the present government.

Governor Makinde who expressed delight at the report presented to him that the world bank task team and the federal government are ready to provide a matching grant to the sum of $5Million (Five Million US Dollars).

Governor Makinde added that the program is time bound because it is expected to end by 30th of June 2021 noting that the program has about eighteen months left in its time frame to accomplish the task.

He said that parts of the identified erosion sites include but not limited to Iseyin Ado Awaye axis such as damaged bridges, communities not having access to other communities etc.

The governor however charged the committee to work fast considering the time left for the accomplishment of the program stressing that the funds earmarked for the program must be judiciously utilized.

He warned against committee members of the committee exhibiting conflicting interests over roles and responsibilities charging them to work as a team because Oyo state government is particularly interested in results across all affected sites.

Members of the steering committee include the honorable commissioner for environment and natural resources, Hon Kehinde Ayoola as the chairman and SPMU Coordinator as the Secretary, other members include permanent secretaries from ministries of Lands, Housing and Physical Development, Finance, Public works and transport, Agriculture And Rural Development, Budget and Economic Planning, as well as representatives of participating local government areas in Oyo state.