By Hillary Asemota
The Cross River State Governor, Senator Prince Bassey Otu, over the week end pledged his full support to the Nigeria Climate Adaptation – Erosion and Watershed Project (NEWMAP-EIB) in its avowed effort and commitment to combat gully erosion in the state.
The governor who was represented by his Deputy, Mr. Peter Odey, made the pledge at the Government House, Calabar, on Friday, during a courtesy visit by the Federal Project Management Team, led by the National Project Coordinator, Engr. Anda Ayuba Yalaks.
Otu, acknowledged the intervention made by Cross River State NEWMAP phase 1 and thanked the team for continuing from where they stopped.
He pledged the state government’s support for the project, underscoring its significance to the preservation of livelihoods of the people who would have otherwise been adversely affected by fully erosion, as seen in the destruction of farmlands.
The visit was part of the Cross River State scoping mission aimed at assessing the state’s readiness to participate in the project and draw funding from the European Investment Bank.
The mission objective is to evaluate the state’s effective readiness, as a crucial step towards disbursement and project implementation take off.
The visit also demonstrates the project’s commitment to collaboration and stakeholders’ engagement towards ensuring the successful implementation of NEWMAP-EIB in the state.
The National Project Coordinator was accompanied on the visit by the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Moses John Osogi, the State Project Coordinator, Prof. Emmanuel Eyo and staff of the state project management unit.
Communication Specialist at NEWMAP-EIB, Madina Gertrude, in a statement, said highlight of the visit was a special moment of recognition, where the Deputy Governor presented a plaque to the National Project Coordinator (NPC) for outstanding performance.
This gesture acknowledges the NPC’s exceptional work and dedication to the Project, the statement, added.
