Momoh Umar Momoh, Benin
Edo State Government said it will spend €175 million on the Erosion and Watershed Project (NEWMAP-EIB).
Mr Ahmed Momoh, State Coordinator of the project and Chief Executive Officer of the Edo Flood, Erosion and Watershed Management Agency (EdoFEWMA) disclosed this on Thursday at the project’s inaugural steering and technical committee meeting in Benin City.
Momoh, said the European Investment Bank (EIB)-funded Nigeria Climate Adaptation is slated to be officially launched by the state government in June 2025
He said the six-month work plan
underscored the importance of readiness, accountability, and strategic implementation of the project.
He said the state government has already released N500 million in counterpart funding.
Momoh added that only 10 per cent of the EIB funding would be accessible in the initial phase, with states required to meet key administrative and logistical benchmarks.
He explained that the initiative aims to tackle gully erosion, land degradation, and climate vulnerability across the state as part of a broader effort spanning 23 Nigerian states.
The State Coordinator of the project stressed the urgency of meeting pre-launch conditions such as staffing, procurement, and office readiness.
According to him, peparedness is key. Without timely disbursement of counterpart funding and proper logistics in place, we risk missing critical targets.
On his part, Mr Jude Ebodaghe Ekpu, who is the Chairman of the Steering Committee and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainability, called for efficient use of resources and a results-oriented approach.
“This project must yield outcomes that fully justify the investment. Our objective is to position Edo State as a benchmark for climate adaptation across Nigeria,” he said.
In his remarks, Mr Emmanuel Ekomoezor, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, presented a detailed six-month roadmap outlining timelines, performance indicators, and mechanisms for tracking impact.
The NEWMAP-EIB initiative is a continuation of the earlier World Bank-supported erosion control project.
The new phase focuses on scaling interventions through stronger institutional coordination and community-driven solutions.
