World Bank-Assisted Environmental Lab For Edo Underway As State Invests N800m In Counterpart Funding For Erosion Control

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Francis Onoiribholo

Edo State Commissioner for Environment and Sustainability, Mr Nosa Adams on Wednesday disclosed that the Federal Ministry of Environment, has concluded plans to establish an environmental laboratory in the state with support from the World Bank.

The Commissioner also announced the State Government has paid N800 million in counterpart funding to the European Union to support erosion and flood control projects, particularly in Benin City.

Adams who disclosed this during the biweekly ministerial press briefing organised by the State Ministry of Information and Strategy
said the proposed laboratory will serve Edo, Delta, Bayelsa and Ondo states.

According to him, this laboratory, when established, would strengthen environmental monitoring, pollution control and scientific testing in the South-South region.

“We have reached out to the Federal Ministry of Environment, which has pledged, with the support of the World Bank, to build three environmental laboratories.

“One will serve Edo, Delta, Bayelsa and Ondo states and will be located in Benin City,” he said.

The other laboratories, the commissioner said, would be located in Gombe and Enugu states to serve other parts of the country.

According to the commissioner, the minister of environment is expected to visit Benin within the next month to perform the groundbreaking for the project.

“That will be a very big boost because somebody coming from Ondo, Bayelsa and Delta to carry out environmental laboratory tests will be able to do so in Benin City,” he said.

He also said that the facility would enhance scientific assessment of environmental pollution, improve regulatory compliance and strengthen environmental governance in the region.

Adams also disclosed that the Edo state government had also established standard discharge limits for industries to regulate pollutants released into the environment and protect water bodies.

He revealed that his ministry had conducted environmental audits in 230 facilities across the state, served 93 abatement and violation notices to environmental offenders and prosecuted 30 habitual offenders.

The commissioner attributed the improved enforcement to the state Environment, Sanitation and Pollution Management Law, which was assented to on Oct. 25, 2025.

“The law has given the ministry and indeed the Edo State Waste Management Board the teeth to bite.

“We now have a mobile court stationed at the ministry every week to take care of habitual violators, while we continue to prioritise education and advocacy,” he said.

Adams also said the ministry had intensified monitoring of mining activities and industrial emissions, compelling companies to adopt cleaner environmental practices.

He cited the intervention at the Coca-Cola facility, where the company invested about N1.8 billion in an effluent treatment plant,  after the ministry insisted that industrial waste must be treated before discharge.

“Experts from the University of Benin monitored the installation to ensure that whatever is discharged is just ordinary water and no chemicals at all,” he said.

On Erosion control, the Commissioner for Environment announced that the Edo State Government has paid N800 million in counterpart funding to the European Union to support erosion and flood control projects, particularly in Benin City.

He said the intervention is part of efforts to revive the Benin Storm Water Project, originally initiated by former Governor Adams Oshiomhole but halted during the administration of former Governor Godwin Obaseki.

Adams said, the counterpart funding will facilitate collaboration with the European Union to address persistent erosion and flooding challenges affecting communities across the Benin metropolis, adding that in the next two months, all the paperwork would be done and work will commence.

He said: “And as a follow-up, you know, the major problem we are facing in this very particular period is flooding and erosion control.

“And we have some notorious spots. But His Excellency has also followed up with the European Union Investment Bank and has paid the counterpart funding, which, of course, Edo State is one of the states that have promptly paid the counterpart funding sources as to continue the Benin Storm Water Project, which was thwarted by the last administration.

“And now that we have paid our counterpart funding, in the next two months or so, the second phase and, of course, the last phase of the comprehensive storm project of Benin metropolis will have commenced.

“And we intend to link it up with Tomline, Siluko Road, and Ekewan Road. I can assure you that flooding and erosion problems will be a thing of the past in those areas.”

Also speaking, Prince Kassim Afegbua, Commissioner for Information and Strategy said the state government plans to carry out a massive reclamation of the Government Reservation Area with drainage to deflood the area into the Ogba River. he declared.