$400M World Bank funds for erosion in the South-East.

$400M World Bank funds for erosion in the South-East.

President Goodluck Jonathan has said that the Federal Government was negotiating for a $400m special fund from the World Bank to tackle the menace of erosion in the South East.

President Jonathan was speaking to a delegation of the South East Council of Traditional Rulers at State House, Monday, 29th April, 2013. “We are getting $400m, a special fund from the World Bank, to tackle the erosion in the South East. This is apart from the line votes in the budget for checking erosion”, he stated.

President Jonathan expressed personal pain and sadness at the loss of lives and property due to the activities of Boko Haram, but assured the delegation that Government was working hard to bring the security challenges to an end, pointing to the police helicopters and equipment, he commissioned earlier in the day as part of the Administration’s efforts to enhance the security agencies.

The President said Federal roads in the country were receiving necessary attention, while the Enugu Airport would handle international flights after its transformation.

Responding to a request for a constitutional role for traditional rulers in the country, President Jonathan said, “I believe in an advisory role for traditional rulers. This was one of my campaign promises, and I am consulting with the National Assembly on this”.

The President thanked the South East Council of traditional rulers and people of the zone for supporting him.

Earlier, Eze Dr. Cletus Ilomuanya, Obi of Obinugwu and Chairman of the South East Council of Traditional Rulers, said the people of the South East were worried about the slow pace of rehabilitation work on roads in the zone, threats to lives by erosion, and the activities of Boko Haram, and were pleading for the President’s intervention. He also expressed concern at the killing of Igbos in parts of the country, and the need for a constitutional role for traditional rulers in the country.

SaharaReporter.