Governor Monday Okpebholo

By Jethro Ibileke

The Edo State Government on Thursday unveiled a six-month work plan for its €175 million European Investment Bank (EIB)-funded Nigeria Climate Adaptation – Erosion and Watershed Project (NEWMAP-EIB), ahead of the project’s official launch in June.

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.

NEWMAP-EIB initiative is a continuation of the earlier World Bank-supported erosion control project.

This new phase focuses on scaling interventions through stronger institutional coordination and community-driven solutions.

Speaking at the the project’s inaugural steering and technical committee meeting in Benin City on Thursday, the State Coordinator of the project and Chief Executive Officer of the Edo Flood, Erosion and Watershed Management Agency (EdoFEWMA), Mr Ahmed Momoh, underscored the importance of readiness, accountability, and strategic implementation.

He stressed the urgency of meeting pre-launch conditions such as staffing, procurement, and office readiness.

According to him, “Only 10 per cent of the EIB funding will be accessible in the initial phase, with states required to meet key administrative and logistical benchmarks.

“Edo State Government has already released N500 million in counterpart funding.

“Preparedness is key. Without timely disbursement of counterpart funding and proper logistics in place, we risk missing critical targets,” Momoh said.

On his part, the Chairman of the Steering Committee and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainability, Mr Jude Ebodaghe Ekpu, 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 stated.

Also speaking, the Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Mr Emmanuel Ekomoezor, presented a detailed six-month roadmap outlining timelines, performance indicators, and mechanisms for tracking impact.