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The National Project Coordinator NEWMAP-EIB, Engr. Anda Ayuba Yalaks has decried the state of erosion and land degradation in Abia state saying the sites are active and expanding at an alarming rate threatening the infrastructure, separating communities, affecting Livelihoods and the people’s social cohesion. Engr. Anda made this observation when he led a delegation on a courtesy visit to the Executive Governor of Abia State, HE Dr.Alex Chioma Otti OFR on Tuesday at his residence in Nvosi, Isiala-ngwa south LGA, Abia State. He stated that the FPMU team were in Abia State on the instance of the Governor in order to assess the state’s readiness towards effective disbursement and to meeting the conditions precedence towards attracting the funding from European Investment Bank. According to him, the conditions precedence include amongst others: site identification, prioritize identified sites, availability of office accommodation, pool of qualified staff, Equipped office , project operational vehicles and counterpart fund contribution etc. Technically, he observed that some of the critical issues that led to the aggravation of soil erosion in the state are attributed to the nature of the soil, human and topogenic activities, sand mining , poor road designs with abrupt termination of drainages, deforestation, quest for livelihood amongst others. ” Abia State has a list of 52 sites identified but working with the guidelines on site selection criteria , the states have prioritized the sites that need urgent and emergency intervention to not leas then 20. This according to the NPC is a welcome development. The sites selected are active, and expanding posing threat to infrastructure and life of the people. He expressed gratitude to the Governor for making the visit possible and for taking the bold step in embarking on people’s oriented and developmental projects which are beneficial to the people of Abia. ” You have demonstrated a high level of political will on this project. And by so doing you have secured Abia State to meet all the conditions precedence required. Congratulations to you Sir” he said. He also called on the project implementation unit (PIU) to engage in continuous community and citizens engagement to create awareness and to get the people’s buy-in and ownership of the project for the purpose of sustainability. He however appealed to the governor to increase the counterpart fund contribution which will serve for compensation, office running cost, staff salaries and allowances. He assured the Governor of the FPMU’s support to Abia NEWMAP-EIB in the restoration of degrades lands and bully erosions more especially in the Aba industrial city for the restoration of its lost glory and revolutionalizimg the IGR of the state thereby restoring hope into the lives of the people in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. Earlier in his submission, the governor lamented the impassable state of some of the roads linking other states to Abia and roads within the state applauding the earlier submission of the NPC on abrupt termination of drainages. ” If you don’t terminate your drainage appropriately, you are creating a problem that will surely happen. There are places around Arochukwu, Aba, etc.these are disasters waiting to happen. I am not a climate expert but I am interested” he said. He assured the NEWMAP -EIB team of his cooperation and promised to make additional counterpart fund contributions available. The State Project Coordinator, Ikechukwu Ukaegbu, in his remarks, thanked the governor for providing all the necessary support to the Abia NEWMAP-EIB team to enable it meet the conditions precedent for effective readiness. ” It is because of the magnanimity of HIs Excellency that all this is possible, we want to say thank you “. In his vote of thanks the Abia State Honourable Commissioner for Environment , Philemon Ogbonna commended the FPMU Team for proactiveness and moving swiftly to site on arrival, he also thanked the governor for receiving the team despite his busy schedule. The mission led by the NPC includes senior management specialist at the FPMU, Hon. Commissioner for Environment, Abia State, State Project Coordinator Abia NEWMAP-EIB, staff of the SPIU, Engineering design consultants and Environmental and Social Management Plan Consultants.

The Nigeria Institute of Water Engineers has conferred it’s fellowship award on the National Project Coordinator NEWMAP-EIB, Engr. Anda Ayuba Yalaks for his exceptional contributions in the field of Environmental and Resources Management, Water Resources Planning and Management, Irrigated Agriculture, Project Management and Integrated Water Resources Management. The staff of NEWMAP -EIB congratulate the NPC on this prestigious induction and yet another feat recorded!

As the FPMU continues to assess states’ effective readiness, across the 23 states in Nigeria, the NPC, Engr. Anda Ayuba Yalaks has called for upscaled counterpart funding from the state governors’ fund project operational activities, enhancing the capacity of staff in SPMU’s and a conducive work environment for project staff. Engr. Anda made this call when he led the FPMU team on a courtesy visit to Ondo State Governor, HE Hon. Lucky Orimisan Ayedatiwa on Friday 11th July 2024 in government house, Akure, Ondo state. Engr. Anda revealed that Ondo State is 95 percent ready for the project’s commencement. He however stated that there is need for additional project vehicles and the provision of more counterpart funds for the effective project takeoff and smooth implementation of activities at the state PMU. The NPC also informed His Excellency of the urgent need to revalidate 5 sites out of the 15 approved bankable designs that were initially approved by the world Bank under the closed NEWMAP IDA funded project, in line with the present site conditions. While commending the governor for his transformative leadership, the NPC thanked the governor for appointing the Hon. Oyeniyi Oseni, former SA Environment and Climate Change matters as Hon. Commissioner for Environment. ” This will bring into play his wealth of knowledge and experience is an asset to the Project” he said. Engr Anda mentioned that despite Ondo State joining the old World Bank funded NEWMAP project late, they successfully completed all projects approved under the IDA funded NEWMAP. According to the NPC, this was a result of high support and political will enjoyed by the project from HE, the authorizing Environment and the commitment and team spirit demonstrated by the staff of the SPMU. Earlier in his remarks, the Executive Governor of Ondo State, Hon. Lucky Ayedatiwa warmly welcomed the FPMU team to the state. He mentioned his readiness to collaborate with NEWMAP-EIB. He expressed optimism that all investments will yield significant results that will benefit all. He appealed to NEWMAP-EIB to give top priority to Ayetoro community as it faces the challenges and menace of coastal Erosion. The governor assured the team that all requests presented to him will be positively attended to. The NPC was accompanied on this courtesy visit by Hon. Commissioner for Environment, the FPMU Staff, the Project Supervisor, and the SPMU staff.

  NEWMAP-EIB engages in strategic Partnership with technical partners to Boost staff capacity. NEWMAP-EIB remains committed to its vision to promote Nigeria’s resilience to climate change impacts land its mission to contribute to Nigeria’s climate change Adaptation, resilience, and mitigation through watershed management approach for sustainable development. The meeting explored potential partnership opportunities particularly in enhancing the capacity of NEWMAP-EIB staff through trainings, providing technical services and support in the field of materials technology, innovation, engineering infrastructure, from quality control to leading-edge research. The National Project Coordinator, NEWMAP-EIB, Engr. Anda Ayuba Yalaks, NIAE, FNAH, FNIWE, in a group photograph with the Technical Partners: Engr Aisha Umar Kawu Gombe (MD Tectonic Engineering), Andre Di Iorio (General Manager CONTROL), Michael Di Tommaso (General Manager IMM SA). Others in the photograph are Umar Hauwa (Social and Livelihood Specialist NEWMAP-EIB), Zenum Kifasi (Environmental Safeguard Specialist NEWMAP-EIB). Madina Gertrude (Communication Specialist NEWMAP-EIB), Engr N.F Gajere (Project Engineer).

  The National Project Coordinator of NEWMAP-EIB, Engr. Ayuba Anda Yalaks NIAE, FNAH, FNIWE, on Friday, 18th October 2024 held a meeting with the Centre for Renewable Energy Action for Climate Change ( CREACC) team led by its Executive Director, Usman Mohammed. The aim of the meeting was to introduce the Climate Eyes and NOF cooling systems to NEWMAP-EIB. Discussions also centered on collaborations to further achieve the vision of NEWMAP-EIB in the area of providing decision system support, livelihood enhancement, Information & Technology Exchange, Capacity development, Food security, reduce Soil vulnerability to erosion and Watershed Management. The highlight of the meeting was the presentation by Climate Eyes group (online) and presentation on the reduction of post-harvest losses through CO2 cooling solution by Natural Offset Farming (NOF) Omri Hasnes. The meeting had in attendance, Management Staff of the NEWMAP-EIB.