NEWMAP commences work on Ajalogun, Arinkin bridges to halt Erosion in Ekiti

Source: This Day

The Ekiti State government has stepped up efforts to avert the destruction of properties and lives in the state as a result of flooding and erosion. In preparedness to surmount the challenges of flooding, the Ekiti State Government has embarked on constructing bridges and dredging waterways.

The state Project Coordinator of a World Bank initiative, Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP), Dr. AKinyemi Akinyugha, stated these in Ado Ekiti yesterday during a chat with journalists.

Akunyugha, also the Senior Special Assistant on Environment to the state Governor, Kayode Fayemi, said the government, through NEWMAP, would soon complete the construction of the Arinkin and Ajolagun bridges in Ikere and Oke Ako Ekiti respectively.

Ajolagun Bridge is to be delivered by August, 2021.

In preparedness to surmount the challenges of flooding, which have caused the destruction of lives and property, the Ekiti State Government has embarked on the construction of bridges and dredging of waterways to avert such occurrences. The state Project Coordinator of a World Bank initiative, Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP), Dr. AKinyemi Akinyugha, stated these in Ado Ekiti yesterday during a chat with journalists. Akunyugha, who is also the Senior Special Assistant on Environment to the state Governor, Kayode Fayemi, said the government, through NEWMAP, would soon complete the construction of Arinkin and Ajolagun bridges in Ikere and Oke Ako Ekiti respectively. The NEWMAP coordinator described the two sites as heavily prone to flooding that has caused threats to lives and property. He said: “The government of Governor Fayemi is using the NEWMAP to change the landscape of the state. We are embarking on the construction of drainages and culverts at Arinkin in Oke Ako and Ajolagun in Ikere Ekiti in the first phase of the project after which we will proceed to Ogbomu Bridge located between Irele and Ponyan in Kogi State. Ajolagun Bridge is to be delivered by August 2021.

The Status of Ajolagun Bridge

Source: Daily Post

According to the  Project Coordinator of the National Erosion and Watershed Management Project, Ekiti NEWMAP, Dr. Akinyemi Akinyugha, all water channels leading to the Ureje River will be dredged soon to give room for free flow of water, thus preventing flooding.

He noted that Ekiti State Government had finalised engineering designs for the concrete channelisation of major channels within Ado, including the entire Ureje stretch.  

“Recall that Governor Fayemi’s administration has already completed the channelisation of over 3.5km of Aiya River (KajolaTemidire) and 2.2km of Bisi Aloba Adun Ogbon (Osun River) both in Ikere LGA, as well as over 4,000km of drainage, works in Ipao, Irele and Oke Ako in Ikole LGA. In addition, the project completed other hydraulic structures across the state, including the Ajolagun Bridge (kere), Arinkin Bridge (Oke Ako), and Ogbomu culvert (Irele).

However, there is no concrete evidence that the Ajalogun bridge has been completed as claimed by the NEWMAP Coordinator.