The Umbrella

Edo Flooding: Obaseki has done his part, Okpebholo, you are responsible now!

I cannot say exactly how 150m was spent but Governor Godwin Obaseki’s administration undertook extensive erosion control measures across Edo State, focusing on infrastructure development, environmental sustainability, and community resilience.

Key Erosion Control Initiatives

1. NEWMAP Projects

Across 15 Sites
Under the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP), the state government intervened in 15 erosion-prone sites across the three senatorial districts. These include areas such as Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Edo College, Fugar-Agenebode Road, Gapiona, Emu, Ewu, Urora, Queen Ede, Ekenhuan, Ibore, Igbei-Auchi, Iguosa, Ogiso, Oshiobugie, and Ugboha. The interventions involved constructing over 40 km of secondary drains, 14 km of primary stormwater culvert drains, and 4 km of earth stormwater channels.

2. Integrated Drainage Systems in Benin City

To address flooding in Benin City, the administration initiated integrated underground drainage projects, notably in the second Ugbor axis. A significant project includes a 13 km underground concrete drainage system designed to channel floodwaters to the Ogba River, incorporating six attenuation ponds to manage water flow.

3. Ogiso-Osunde Flood Control Project

In the Ogiso-Osunde community of Ikpoba-Okha LGA, the government commenced a flood control project aimed at permanently tackling flood and gully erosion. The project features two major underground tunnels directing floodwaters through the 3rd East Circular axis to the Ikpoba River.

4. Ugboha Gully Erosion Remediation

The administration successfully completed remediation work on one of the state’s longest gully erosion sites in Ugboha, Esan South-East LGA. The project included constructing 13.2 km of roads and 26,000 meters of drains, significantly restoring socio-economic activities in the area .

5. Establishment of Edo FEWMA

To sustain and coordinate erosion control efforts, the government established the Edo State Flood, Erosion, and Watershed Management Agency (Edo FEWMA). This agency oversees all erosion control projects, ensuring proper engineering designs and environmental compliance.

Community Engagement is a key ingredient in erosion control projects. As well as compensation…For instance, in the Ogiso-Osunde project, compensation was provided to affected individuals, and community oversight committees were established to monitor project implementation.

Obaseki has had his dance. It’s Okpebholo’s turn to dance.

Signed

Chris Osa Nehikhare,
Publicity Secretary,
Edo PDP Caretaker Committee