Kogi State Government along side NEWMAP on Monday signed multi-billion naira contracts for the stabilisation, reclamation and Channeling of Adumu and Agassa erosion sites in Olamaboro and Okene local government areas respectively towards ensuring a lasting solution to concerns of environmental degradation in those areas.
The agreement was signed by Governor Bello, the NEWMAP representatives, alongside the contractors at the Governor’s office, Lokoja.
Governor Bello noted that his government cared for the people of the State by ensuring that the environment where they live in was safe and conducive for them to thrive
He emphasised that Kogi State under his watch has a culture of proper care for the environment based on the fact that such action determines how the environment reacts to human activities.
The Governor thanked the world bank who have provided huge financial support towards ensuring that that issues of environmental degradation in the State and other parts of the country was reduced to the barest minimum while he urged them to do more.
Governor Bello also lauded the Federal Government through its Federal Ministry of Environment for ensuring that concerns on environment were taken with utmost seriousness.
The Governor urged the contractors to mobilise to the site on time and deliver within the 15months time frame provided for in the details of the contracts
The Project Coordinator NEWMAP Barrister Ladi Ahmed Jatto, in her opening remarks asserted that the Governor has shown so much concern towards solving environment issues and despite allocation dwindling of the State, as he released 900,000 million Counterpart fund to facilitate and fast track the Engineering Designs
She stated that after a rigorous and meticulous bidding process two firms namely NIGERPET Structures Limited and NAEL and BIN HARMAL NBHH/HARTLAND were awarded the contracts.
She highlighted that the Civil works for Agassa Erosion site was One Billion, Three Hundred and Thirty-Six Million, Seven Hundred and Ninety Eight thousand, One Hundred and Thrity Four Naira, Four Kobo (#1,336,798,134.04) while the one for Adumu Erosion site was awarded for Two Billion, Six Hundred and Thirteen Million, Seven Hundred and Twenty Six thousand, two hundred and Eighty Four naira, Forty Kobo (2, 613, 726,284.40).
The Project Coordinator further noted that based on the Governor’s directives, NEWMAP in recent times awarded the contract for the Engineering Design of eight erosion sites which were: Ugwolawo Erosion site, Ogane Aji erosion site.
Others were Ankpa Gully Erosion Site, Etahi Gully Site, Ozuri Gully site, Omigbo River Channelization, Greater Lokoja water scheme, Afor Gam- Gam site and the permanent site of the Federal University, Felele all spread across the three senatorial district of the State.
She however pointed out that the contractor had submitted the draft design for the greater Lokoja water work, which has been sent to Federal Control Office in Abuja for review
