Benue State Governor, Mr. Gabriel Suswam has commissioned an erosion control project in the North-Bank section of Makurdi, the state capital last week.

This followed the revalidation and release of the contract sum for the completion of the jointt Federal Government/Benue State Government Special Ecological Project along Eri stream in the North-Bank.

The jointly funded contract was awarded to AGB Nigeria Limited in 2001 at the cost of N350.2 million. The state government was to pay N136.2 million while the federal government was to pay N214 million under the Special Ecological Grant. The contract was, however, abandoned as the state government only made part payment and failed to complete it.

Governor Suswam, in March this year, revalidated the contract realizing the sum of N6 million, a development which led to the return of the contractor to the site to provide concrete drainage along Eri stream running through North-Bank to River Benue.

The drainage which is expected to collect storm waters during the rainy season and run same down the river would put an end to the gully erosion that has devastated the area in recent years.

Governor Suswam while commissioning the project, commended AGB Nigeria Limited for "doing a very string and standard work", hoping that the project when completed would serve the purpose for which it was executed. He also commende the commissioner in charge of water resources and environment, Mr. John Ngbede for close supervision of the project as well as for over seeing successfully, all environment related issues in the state.

He appealed to residents not to dump solid wastes along the drainage in order to not to block it, just as he urged community leaders to be vigilant, to report any unwholesome practice by members of the public to the state ministry of water resources and environment.

The governor also promised to extend the ongoing rehabilitation if urban roads in the state, to the North-Bank area. "We have done only a few roads in North-Bank, but this time, having tackled the erosion problem, we will commence massive rehabilitation and construction of roads here", said Suswam.

The commissioner, Mr. John Ngbede had earlier commended the governor for demonstrating high commitment to address the myriad of ecological problems in the state through the construction of drainage, channels as well as the completion of flood and erosion control projects started by the past administration.

The chairman and chief executive officer of AGB Nigeria Limited, Alhaji Garba Baba had in a statement thanked the state governor for giving the company the opportunity to work close with the administration promising to do a good job.

Community members through a widow, Mrs. Cecilia Borogo who lost her husband to the gully erosion, had also commended the government for the project which they described as people-oriented.