NEWMAP alleged N60b Enugu erosion control project false, misleading – Obetta
Former NEWMAP Coordinator Denies Allegations of Mismanagement in Erosion Control Projects
Dr. Vincent Egechukwu Obetta, the former project coordinator for the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) in Enugu State, has rebutted claims that a sum of N60 billion was approved, released, and contracted for erosion control projects in the Enugu North Senatorial Zone.
These allegations arose after a civil rights organization filed a lawsuit against NEWMAP and the Federal Ministry of Environment, asserting that the funds were misappropriated while projects in the designated areas were left unfinished. The case is currently under consideration by the Enugu Division of the Court of Appeal, following a prior Federal High Court ruling that declined to mandate the disclosure of contract records by NEWMAP and the Ministry.
In a statement on Monday, Obetta described the accusations as false and misleading, attributing them to the imaginations of the complainants. He clarified that only one contract related to erosion control had been awarded under the NEWMAP-IDA initiative in the Enugu North senatorial zone. This contract was for the Onuiyi-Nsukka section of a gully erosion control project, valued at N1.4 billion.
Obetta noted that another proposed section, Alor-uno, did not receive the World Bank’s required ‘no objection’ and therefore was not approved for execution by the state government. He explained that the procurement process for contractors involves several steps, including World Bank approval, state executive council consent, and a bidding process, none of which took place for other project sites except for the Onuiyi-Nsukka section.
He asserted that no contracts were awarded for the Alor-uno section or the other identified projects, including Imiliki-etiti and Anyazurum Ohom-orba. Without the World Bank’s ‘no objection,’ the Enugu State government did not proceed with these projects.
Dr. Obetta also stated that the NEWMAP-IDA project concluded in September 2022, with all financial and fiduciary obligations reviewed and certified by the World Bank, ensuring no unaccounted funds remained. Upon project closure, any unutilized funds were returned in accordance with the World Bank Service Loan Agreement.
He emphasized that this financial discipline received recognition from the World Bank, resulting in a Letter of Credence that underscored the project’s transparency and accountability in Enugu State. Additionally, Obetta’s leadership during the project earned him an award as the Best Performing Project Coordinator from both the World Bank and the National Project Management Unit of NEWMAP-IDA.
Obetta concluded by confirming the availability of relevant procurement records for the Enugu NEWMAP-IDA, which he asserts reflect the project’s integrity.
