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From Tony Osauzo, Benin
The Executive Chairman of the Edo State Ecological Fund and Management Commission, Dr. Blessing Agbomhere, yesterday, unveiled plans by the state government to raise N160 billion to tackle ecological challenges in the state.
Besides, he also announced plans by the Commission to launch Governor Okpebholo’s Green Revolution in the state next week, which will entail planting one million trees in four years.
Addressing journalists in Benin City, Dr. Agbomhere said the fund would be raised through the Ecological/Climate Trust, explaining that the state opted to raise funds because its four years budget would not be enough to remediate gully erosion sites across the state.
He announced that the Commission soon after inauguration uncovered over 60 gully erosion sites, which he said would be remediated in phases.
Agbomhere, who raised the alarm over increasing illegal sand mining sites in several communities in Edo South senatorial district, said the operators had no plans to remediate the sites after their operations.
“We went round Edo State after we were inaugurated to access all the negative ecological impact sites in the state. We were devastated about what we saw. I never believed Edo had been devastated by gully erosion until we did our assessment tour.
“Edo State budget for four years cannot resolve the gully problem. To resolve and remediate one gully, we need between N5 billion to N6 billion. We have some that will cost N20 billion. Edo State alone cannot solve the issue of gully because the budget is for many projects.
“We are expecting to raise N160 billion to solve ecological problems at the Trust Fund to be able to resolve ecological challenges. We cannot remediate all the gullies so we have to do them in phases.
“Part of our plans is to turn these gully sites into tourist attractions. We will restore, conserve and preserve. We are already designing projects that we will put in every gully we remediated.”
On illegal sand mining, Dr. Agbomhere said the sites were already creating gullies that would become problems in the future.
“A lot of companies are operating in Edo State. After their operation, they will leave the state without remediating the environment. We are calling on them to tell us their plans of remediation when they leave,” Agbomhere added.
