By Victor Akinkuolie, Ado-Ekiti

|

Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, said the state’s partnership with the World Bank, through the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEW-MAP), would put an end to perennial flooding in some areas of the state.

Fayemi stated this in Ikere Ekiti on Tuesday when he led some officials on an inspection of channelization projects and Gully Erosion Control work in Ikere-Ekiti as well as other project sites in the state.

The Governor said the erosion control project was being accorded urgent attention in order to ensure the projects were completed before the rainy season, in order to checkmate the massive flooding usually experienced in the areas.

Accompanied on the inspection by the NEW-MAP Project Coordinator, Dr Akinyemi Akinyugba and the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Iyabo Fakunle -Okhiemen, Governor Fayemi said his administration was passionate about environmental safety of the people as outlined in its development agenda.

The Governor who inspected the channelization of Aiya I and II Gully Erosion Control Work in different parts of Ikere, including the 2.6km Bisi Aloba – Adun Ogbon channelization project, the newly completed Ajolagun bridge which had cut off thousands of residents from the main town for many years as well as Afao – Oreibu community gully erosion control project, told journalists at the end of the exercise that he was satisfied with the quality of work done by the contractors.

Scores of residents of the areas trooped out to appreciate the Governor for the timely intervention.

Dr Fayemi who also inspected the Ekiti Cargo and Passenger Airport project site, assured Ekiti people that the project would be commissioned before he leaves office in October. He said he would continue to invest in essential, economic and social projects aimed at improving the quality of lives of the people as well as reposition Ekiti as preferred destination of choice to investors.

On the airport project, Dr Fayemi said: “This was the agreement we had that this project would be finished, the runway, the terminal building, the taxi way, the access road to the airport, control tower, everything will be ready and the professionals will not sign up to a contract if they are not sure they can finish it and you heard what they are doing with the runway alone which had now gone to 2.3km out of the 3.2km that we have for the runway, and this is the most critical part of the job”.