By Victor Bieni, Asaba
The Permanent Secretary, Delta State Ministry of Environment, Dr. (Mrs.) Minnie Oseji has commended the World Bank for considering Delta State For the NEWMAP Projects towards Erosion mitigation, while appealing for extension for the completion of Jesse, Ubulu-Uku Gully Erosion Projects, and advised residents on the need for a paradigm shift and attitudinal change on waste management in order to keep the cities and developing communities in the State clean at all time.
The new Permanent Secretary, Delta State Ministry of Environment and Chairman, Technical Committee of Delta State NEWMAP, Dr. (Mrs.) Minnie Oseji, gave the charge while inspecting the ongoing Midoma/Iwerebor- Owanta gully reclamation project site today being Monday, 24th May, 2021 at Owanta, Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State and made a case for aggressive advocacy on best Global Practices on Sustainable Development and proper Waste Management.
Dr. Oseji who was accompanied by the Project Coordinator of Delta State NEWMAP, Mr. Isaac Ufiofio, said throwing refuse and garbages on constructed open drains and gutters negates the principles of global environmental best practices, while urging residents of Ika North East to protect the State government projects in their domain. She stated that Delta State Government invested billions of naira on erosion and flood control in Delta metropolitan cities, towns and developing communities to enhance their infrastructural and socio-economic development in the State.
Dr. (Mrs.) Minnie Oseji charged the people of Owanta, Ika North East where the NEWMAP Project is near completion to always keep their drainages clean.
In the words of the World Distinguished Medical Doctor cum Environmental Expert, Dr. Mrs Minnie Oseji: “Residents must reciprocate government’s gesture to protect such facility from blockage and allow free flow of water on the existing drains when it rains”.
“The World Bank assisted NEWMAP erosion and flood project in partnership with the Delta State Government, was first of its kind in the State. It was targeted at mitigating erosion and flood in intervention communities in Owanta. We don’t want a situation where after this huge investment has been made and because of the behaviour of our people, we begin to find ourselves retrogressing. It is hoped we should be able to change the behaviour of our people, and we will find out what it takes to make them change their behaviour”.
“We need to have a paradigm shift on waste managemnent. We need to come out with a strong aggressive sensitization to make each Deltan is responsible when it comes to waste management.”
“I am impressed with what I saw on ground. I have never seen a project like this before. This is first of its kind in Delta State. Also, Levant Construction Limited and the AURECON the Supervising Consultant obviously know what they are doing and we really want to appreciate World Bank for selecting Delta State to benefit from the World Bank assisted Project for a huge project like this which is going to control erosion in this locality. We have also interacted with the residents living here and they are so happy with the new lease of life brought by this intervention to mitigate erosion in this locality”.
“So economic activities are gearing up because the challenges of erosion they had, have all been mitigated by this project funded by World Bank in collaboration with the Delta State Government. We are already in talks with the World Bank to consider an extension so that the other two projects in Jesse and Ubulu-Uku can be taken. The talks are ongoing. We are hopeful. We want to make sure that the ones we got approval, we do everything so that we are not found wanting”.
“When you are working with developing partners, you monitor, and submit your report and gives account of the funds and when there is opportunity for another round, you will be considered. And we want to make sure that all those things are done properly and nothing will set us back when we are being considered for an extension”.