NEWMAP starts distribution of 117 evacuation tricycles in Ebonyi

 

New Erosion and Watershed management project, NEWMAP, has procured and started distribution of 117 meant for the Ebonyi community projects to be use in evacuating refuse from household to household in the state.

This was disclosed by the NEWMAP Project Coordinator in Ebonyi State, Mr. Philip Echiagu while briefing newsman in Abakaliki, the state capital.

According to him, the first set of the cargo tricycles, that were 42 in number have been distributed remaining 75 of them to be distributed immediately after their registration.

Echiegu further explained that the project centres on controlling gully erosion crisis and to support livelihoods inbuilt in the state.

The Coordinator added that the intention of the component was to support the communities on alternative forms of livelihoods, other than activities that will bear  pressure on the environment and land.

"Using the tricycle to evacuate refuse will help them to generate little income that will be sustaining their businesses and families", he noted.

He also stated that, some community interest groups specialize on various forms of activities such as rental activities formed by the handicapped and others like garri processing mills.

“Cargo tricycle were all together 117 in number procured by this office as part of the livelihood support project. The first set was 42 in number and have been distributed.

“ These tricycles happened to be one out of those livelihood support programmes of the project. The primary purpose was to distribute these tricycles to community interest groups in our project communities. This is a kind of putting an arrangement that will help in micro evacuation of refuse from household to household," he added.

He said the community interest groups that benefited from the programme included the physically challenged, agro-processing, environmental and waste management; small and rental shops  from Nguzu Edda, who got six tricycles.

Other beneficiaries were Iyidule environmental and waste management- five tricycles, Ebia river environmental and waste management -five tricycles,  Nkaliki Odunukwe environment and waste management - five tricycles and Ebia cassava processing mill got one tricycle.