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Ecological Fund: No kobo has reached EDSG - Commissioner
The Edo State Commissioner for Environment and Public Utilities, Prince Clem Agba has said that the state has not received any money from the Ecological Fund to deal with the Auchi and Queen Ede gully erosions.
In a statement issued in Benin City, the Commissioner for Environment who was reacting to a misconception that the state received the sum of three billion naira from the Ecological Fund to deal with the Auchi gully erosion stated that till date the state has not received any sum in dealing with these two sites.
“My attention has been drawn to a misconception that we received the sum of three billion naira from the Ecological Fund to deal with the Auchi gully erosion. This I found distasteful and embarrassing and full of lies. I therefore wish to set the records straight,” the Commissioner noted.
According to him, at the instance of Mr. Governor, the Minister of Environment visited the Auchi and Queen Ede gully erosions, and after the visit, the state wrote an application requesting approval from Mr. President for a sum of N4.5 billion for Auchi and N3 billion for Queen Ede.
“Since this application, I have followed up with both the Ecological Fund Office and the Ministry of Environment”, he said, adding that “till date the state has not received any sum, in dealing with these two sites.”
He further disclosed that during meetings with the Ecological Fund Office, it was made clear that the Federal intervention would be done directly through the Benin River Basin Authority, since these sites clearly require the intervention of the Federal Government which they are currently promising.
“As a state, what we have done in addressing the flood and erosion problem of Auchi with a view to reducing the current destruction at the Auchi gully site is the incorporation of both sides and primary drains in the Auchi road dualization project that was recently awarded to Messrs Borini Porino,” he added.
He assured that these flood and erosion structures when completed will help reduce velocity of flow of the flood waters and the redirection of same to the outfall (Ole River) thus reducing the wash out at the gully site while the Federal Government project would involve the reclamation of the site.
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