The Ogun State government under the leadership of Governor Dapo Abiodun has affirmed its commitment to tackle the menace of erosion, gullies and land degradation being experienced in some parts of the State. 

This affirmation was made in Abuja by the Ogun State Project Coordinator of NEWMAP-EIB, Engr. Ismail Adenuga who led other staffers of the state project management unit to the official launch of the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) in partnership with the European Investment Bank (EIB), where the Gateway State joined 22 other states of the Federation, Federal Government delegation, EIB team and World Bank leaders to reiterate commitment towards safeguarding the Nigeria's ecosystem. 

Earlier in his address, the National Project Coordinator, NEWMAP-EIB, Engr. Ayuba Anda Yalaks assured that the project will restore degraded lands, enhance climate resilience, and strengthen livelihoods—aligning with the Federal Government’s broader developmental goals.

Engr. Yalaks added that the local communities across the country where the interventions would be carried out will be fully engaged for the sustainability of the project disclosing that it is when the local stakeholders are fully integrated that they can take ownership and protect the project. 

In his remarks, the Minister of Environment, Mr. Balarabe Lawal noted that the intervention is a landmark step in Nigeria’s climate adaptation efforts adding that the EIB partnership would help strengthen resilience in erosion-prone regions across the country. 

Lawal disclosed that the European Investment Bank is set to pay a huge sum of 175 million Euro with counterpart funding of 53 million Euro from the Federal Government and Subnational governments of 23 States adding that the event marked a pivotal step in Nigeria’s environmental restoration efforts. 

Ogun State which is one of the 23 States expected to benefit from the intervention said the project will support watershed management and erosion control especially due to its topography affirming the state's proactive stance in addressing critical ecological challenges.

The State Project Coordinator revealed that the sites that have been highlighted for intervention include; Makalewo and Olorunsogo gully sites, both in Ijebu Ode Local government area of the state, the Ojumele gully site in Sagamu Local government. Others include; the Ishakale gully site in Ado-Odo, Ota local government, Ilodo gully site in Ilaro area of the state and Igbore Robiyan gully site in Ifo local government area of the state. 

Femi Osipitan, 

Project Communication Officer, 

NEWMAP-EIB, Ogun State