The Edo State Government, through the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP), has commenced the asphalting of about 5.7km of roads within the Benin metropolis.
Project Coordinator, Edo NEWMAP, Dr. Tom Obaseki, said the project is in line with the government’s infrastructural development efforts aimed at improving the living standards of the people, ensuring that NEWMAP project host communities are better off than they were before any intervention.
He noted, “The Edo State NEWMAP has commenced the restoration and laying of asphalt on roads excavated in the course of construction of underground stormwater conduit drainage at its Gapiona flood erosion alleviation work.
“The Project will be asphalting about 5.7 kilometres of roads within the G.R.A, in Benin City. Among the roads already asphalted are Imuwahien Street, off Gapiona and Edosomwan Street in Gapiona Area of G.R.A, Benin City, among others.”
“Though the mandate of NEWMAP is not to construct roads, the ongoing restoration and asphalting work on roads in these communities is in line with NEWMAP’s commitment to always leave project communities better than before intervention, ensuring improved living standards for the people,” Obaseki stated.
Obaseki, however, assured that the government, through NEWMAP, will sustain efforts to transform the lives of Edo residents and positively impact communities across the state.
The Edo State NEWMAP-Gapiona flood alleviation work begins from Upper Adesuwa, close to Godwin Omonuwa Housing Estate, which formerly suffered yearly flood ravages, and running through Gapiona axis to Abuja Quarters in Ugbor, down to Iguokhuen, all within the Benin metropolis.
The Edo NEWMAP has completed over 14km of stormwater conduit concrete work from these areas down to Ebo Village and Ogumwenyin Community in the G.R.A.
The Project, apart from the underground concrete conduit, has constructed several attenuation ponds to collect stormwater along the conduit drainage to a safe discharge point away from human habitation.
