The Ecological Fund Office (EFO) has released N2.5 billion to the Federal Ministry of Water Resources for remediation works on Goronyo Dam in Sokoto State.
Mr Jude Mekwunye, the Director, Soil Erosion and Flood Control, Ecological Fund Office (EFO), disclosed this on Friday in Abuja in his presentation at the 2nd edition of the Nigeria Eco-Fair.
The Eco-fair, with the theme, “Eco Solutions for Sustainable Development”, was organised by the EFO.
In his paper titled, `Eco Awareness Promotion in the Grassroots of Nigeria,’ Mekwunye said that the money would be used to repair the damage caused by September 2010 excessive rainfall.
“The dam suffered several damages when a portion of the two-km long spillway was breached due to excessive rainfall which occurred in September 2010,’’ he said.
The director said that the EFO had also released N18.6 billion to the Ministry of Water Resources to complete work on the Kashimbilla Dam and Gamovo Multipurpose Buffer Dam both in Taraba state.
“The fund is to mitigate environmental disaster which may possibly occur in the event of volcanic eruption from the structurally weak Lake Nyos in Cameroon,’’ he said.
He said that on completion, Gamovo Buffer Dam was expected to generate 40 megawatts hydro-power.
Mekwunye said the dam would also serve as a source of water supply for irrigation, fishing and tourism.
He said that the EFO would collaborate with state governments, MDAs, Community-Based Organisations, and NGOs to propagate eco-awareness at the grassroots.
Meanwhile, Mr Emeka Udokporo, a contractor handling gully erosion project, said he and other contractors were faced with some challenges in executing ecological projects.
He listed some of the challenges to include award of contract during the rainy season and delay in the award of Interim Payment Certificates (IPC).
He said that such delays compelled contractors to collect loans from the banks at high interest rates.
Udokporo appealed to the Federal Government to address these challenges, which he said, caused frustration to contractors in the management of ecological problems.