Edo State is preparing to raise ₦160 billion through a new Ecological and Climate Trust as part of a major drive to confront the growing ecological crisis caused by gully erosion and illegal sand mining across the state.
The Executive Chairman of the Edo State Ecological Fund and Management Commission, Blessing Agbomhere, revealed the plan during a press briefing on Wednesday. He said the state government had concluded that its regular budget could not cover the huge cost of remediation.
Agbomhere explained that a new initiative named the Okpebholo Green Revolution for Edo would be launched next week to support the fundraising campaign and wider environmental projects.
He said the scale of the disaster became clear after the commission toured affected areas soon after its inauguration.
“We went round Edo State after we were inaugurated to assess all the negative ecological impact sites in the state. We were devastated by what we saw. I never believed Edo had been devastated by gully erosion until we did our assessment tour,” he said.
Agbomhere noted that more than 60 identified gully erosion sites will be addressed in phases due to the high cost of remediation.
“Edo State budget for three years cannot resolve the gully problem. To resolve and remediate one gully, we need between N5bn. We have some that will cost N20bn. Edo State alone cannot solve the issue because the budget is for many projects,” he stated.
“We are expecting to raise N160bn to solve the Ecological problem. The Trust Fund is to be able to resolve ecological challenges. We cannot remediate all the gullies, so we have to do them in phases. Part of our plan is to turn these gully sites into tourist attractions. We will restore, conserve and preserve. We are already designing projects that we will put in every gully we remediate.”
He also raised concerns about illegal sand mining in parts of the Edo South senatorial district, warning that abandoned excavation sites are already developing into new erosion channels.
“A lot of companies are operating in Edo State. After their operation, they will leave the state without remediating the environment. We are calling on them to tell us their remediation plans when they leave,” he said.
Beyond erosion control, the commission is planning to plant one million trees over the next four years as part of a broader ecological recovery strategy.
Gully erosion has long plagued communities in the state, particularly in Edo North, where homes, farmland and livelihoods have been destroyed. Previous administrations have desilted drainage channels and worked with international partners to reduce the damage, but the problem continues to spread.
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