Edo State has blazed the trail in technology-driven governance with its new engineering design capabilities to accelerate the process of interventions in flood control and erosion management in the state.

The design capabilities was launched by the Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, at the official launch of the State’s Flood, Erosion, and Watershed Management Agency (EdoFEWMA).

The governor at the event also launched the agency’s novel waste-to-wealth initiative, eTRASH, anchored on an App called PikAmSel to facilitate the government’s efforts at addressing the menace of plastic and aluminum can wastes, which pose serious floods and drainage problems and constitute an immense threat to the functionality of stormwater infrastructure, moats, and other drainage systems in the state.

Speaking at the event with the theme, “Metamorphosis from Edo NEWMAP to Edo FEWMA: Enhancing Landscape and Restoring Livelihoods,” Obaseki said his government remains committed to environmental sustainability and land management.

Noting that most of the gullies and floods experienced over time in Edo State are man-made, ranging from indiscriminate deforestation, improper land management, and poor designs for road constructions, the governor reassured that all necessary measures are being put in place to prevent gullies and erosions in the State.

According to the Chief Executive Officer of Edo FEWMA, Dr. Tom Obaseki, “We are setting the pace in erosion control and flood management with our new engineering design capabilities to accelerate the process of interventions.

“With the drone capabilities at the engineering design centre, land surveys for engineering designs, which would ordinarily take several weeks or months to do, can now be done in a matter of hours or days. This world-class centre is now ready to partner with professionals, consultants and corporate bodies needing crucial data for solar farm planning and inspection, transmission line inspection, pipeline inspection, oil spill investigation, plant health analysis, and 3D-visualization quarry site, among others.”

On PikAmSel, Tom Obaseki noted, “The scheme is an end-to-end digital system with automatic management of associated reward system, offering instant reward via direct bank transfer, telephone airtime crediting and gifting of accumulated points to a third party via a mass participatory redemption scheme.”

He added, “The eTRASH, is a scheme that seeks to reduce littering and indiscriminate disposal of plastic waste by individuals and communities in the State. It is flexible and adaptable to cover State-wide and national deployment.”