NEWMAP alleged N60b Enugu erosion control project false, misleading

Former project coordinator of the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project, NEWMAP, Enugu State, Dr. Vincent Egechukwu Obetta has denied the allegation that N60 billion was approved, released and contract awarded in the four designated erosion control sites in Enugu North Senatorial Zone.

DAILY POST recalls that a civil rights group had dragged NEWMAP and the Federal Ministry of Environment to court alleging that the said sum was spent whereas the projects located in Enugu North Senatorial zone were abandoned.

The case is currently pending before the Enugu Division of Court of Appeal after a Federal High Court declined to compel NEWMAP and the Ministry to make its contract records available to the plaintiffs.

However, reacting on Monday, Obetta described the report as false, misleading and formed in the figment of the promoters’ imagination.

According to him, only one contract for erosion control was awarded under NEWMAP-IDA in the entire Enugu North senatorial zone namely Onuiyi-Nsukka (section) of the gully erosion control project; The cost of the Onuiyi-Nsukka section of the project was in the tune of one billion, four hundred million naira, only.

He continued that “The Alor-uno section of the project did not receive the requisite ‘no objection’ of the World Bank hence was not approved for execution by the state government.

“The procurement processes for the award of contract under the NEWMAP-IDA involves getting the ‘no objection’ from the world Bank, the state Executive Councils’ (EXCO) approval, the call for bid and the actual bidding process before a contractor will emerge. None of these activities was conducted in the other project sites except Onuiyi-Nsukka section of the project.

“It is therefore instructive to say unequivocally that contract was not awarded in the following gully erosion project sites:

“Alor-uno section of the Onuiyi -Nsukka/Alor-uno gully erosion site Imiliki-etiti gully erosion site, and Anyazurum Ohom-orba gully erosion site.

“Following the World Bank non-issuance of ‘no objection’ to the award of these projects, Enugu State government did not award the contract.

“NEWMAP-IDA Project closed in September, 2022. During the winding-up process, all fiduciary and financial obligations were duly audited and discharged and was certified by the World Bank. No funds remain unaccounted for.”

Obetta further stated that “Upon the closure of NEWMAP-IDA, all unutilized fund was duly refunded by the state in line with the World Bank Service Loan Agreement.

“This outstanding financial prudence earned Enugu State a Letter of Credence from the World Bank an official acknowledgement that further validates the transparency and accountability with which Enugu NEWMAP-IDA was executed in the state.

“During my tenure as Project Coordinator, my stewardship was also recognized by the World Bank and the National Project Management Unit of NEWMAP-IDA that earned me an award as the Best Performing Project Coordinator in Agency set-up.

“The relevant project procurement records of Enugu NEWMAP-IDA are available and speak for themselves.”