A former Minister of Environment, Mr. John Odey, has said former Anambra State Governor Peter Obi was instrumental to the creation of the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP).

Under the project, the World Bank will finance the control and management of erosion in some states.

The former minister recalled how Obi almost single-handedly pushed for the project, even when his colleagues were lukewarm.

Odey spoke yesterday in Abuja at the official launch of the project at the Transcorps Hilton.

He urged communities to key in into the project. The World Bank Country Director Marie Francois Marie-Nelly said there was need to seriously tackle erosion in Anambra, Imo, Ebonyi, Enugu, Abia, Edo and Cross River states.

She called for ownership and domestication of the project, especially in the affected states.

The World Bank chief hailed those implementing the project for their innovation, which emphasises reclamation and control.

Marie-Nelly said: “I have visited Edo and Anambra states. Under Peter Obi, I was pleased with his commitment, which he demonstrated by being the first to pay the state’s counterpart funds of N500 million for the project. Ebonyi, Cross River and Imo states have also paid theirs.”

Environment Minister Mrs Laurentia Mallam said erosion had caused havoc in several states and deprived the people of arable land.