World Bank, NEWMAP caution Cross River communities over refuse dump, sand mining

 

By PATRICK ABANG, Calabar –

The World Bank in collaboration with the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Project (NEWMAP) have warned against the indiscriminate dumping of refuse in drainage and other illegal sand mining in Cross River State.

The communities which includes, Atakpa, Ikot Anwantim, Nyangasang, Lemna/ Federal Agriculture, Ikot Ekpo and Edim Otop gully erosion sites were known in the past to engage in activities that degrades the environment.

The state NEWMAP Communication Officer, Mrs Affiong Ita, gave the advised during the handing over ceremony of the sites to the communities for ownership. The event took place at Ikot Ekpo site in 8Miles, Calabar Municipal LGA.

Mrs. Affiong said despite warnings, some persons in the community are still mining sand which she said is undermining the good work.

She said: “we are very lucky with these sites that are completed, the people should be very appreciative. We have seen that residents are dumpling refuse into the drainages of these sites that are just completed, you will see where they are doing sand mining.

“Clan heads, residents of these communities, we are pleading with you, form a vigilante, let them look into the problems of sand mining because as we have worked to that level and those activities will undermine this work and something more devastating will happen.” She lamented.

Earlier while commissioning the Ikot Ekpo site and handing over, the Commissioner, Ministry of International Development Cooperation, Inyang Asibong, urged the communities to jealously guide the sites by ensuring that refuse are not dumped in the drainages.

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