The Imo State government has commenced means on tackling erosion under the World Bank with assistance from Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project. (NEWMAP)

At a stakeholders meeting and interactive session in Owerri the Imo state capital, the project coordinator of NEWMAP team in Imo state Mr. Victor Anueyiagu said out of 5 major erosion sites to receive immediate attention in the state, full work has commenced in 3 sites following World Bank’s clearance and approval.

The NEWMAP team however advised people of the various communities to cooperate with the team to ensure that work is carried out within the stipulated time frame without any interference.

A visit by the World Bank team under the NEWMAP project led by the Imo state project coordinator Mr Victor Anueyiagu revealed that contractors moved to some of the erosion sites have started receiving attention due to World Bank’s clearance and approval.

After inspecting most of these erosion sites, the NEWMAP team gathered for a stakeholders meeting to sensitize the peoples especially communities affected by these erosion on the need to support government’s activities in areas where they need help from the federal government as regards the erosion menace.

While commending the project contractors, the NEWMAP team also urged the people living in those communities affected by the gully erosion to see the project as their own and support the contractors and workers in the field to achieve their aim during the project period.

NEWMAP is one of federal government project in partnership with the World Bank, to transform the Nigerian socio-economy landscape and to mitigate the vulnerability to erosion as well as support the people as they relate to their land.