As the rainy season intensifies, Edo State Government through the Edo State Flood, Erosion and Watershed
Management Agency (EdoFEWMA) is intensifying its flood mitigation strategy through
targeted desilting exercises, infrastructure maintenance, and an inclusive Community
engagement initiative.

Central to this approach is the Community Palliative Participatory Intervention Scheme
(COMPPAS), a bold initiative driving sustainable flood control through grassroots
collaboration.

COMPPAS is not just a Government action, but a community-led initiative that
EdoFEWMA is propagating. It is an initiative by the Agency to encourage Communities
to be a visible part of the control of flood and erosion.

What distinguishes the Sadoh Drive project is not just Government’s intervention, but a
show of responsibility and ownership by the residents.

Last year, before Government involvement, residents in the area took proactive steps
following EdoFEWMA’s COMPPAS, to address the flooding challenge. They collectively
funded the desilting of the drainage systems and a lowest point in the area where water
naturally flows to, with a joint effort of a local contractor to restore the water channels.
This demonstration of civic responsibility and environmental ownership has become a
model for COMPPAS.

“We decided not to wait for the floods to get worse. We acted last year. Our resources
were not enough, but our effort had an impact. This year that Governor Okphebholo is
here to support us, we are seeing significant change. It is encouraging, and we are
staying involved, a resident who begged anonymity.”

This reflects the core philosophy of COMPPAS, which seeks to create a sustainable
model for emergency flood response by combining Community resources and local
knowledge with EdoFEWMA’s technical expertise.

Some Community interventions require palliative interventions while others are a major
overhaul. COMPPAS encourages the Communities with less interventions to take
initiative, with the agency stepping in to scale and support their efforts.

“Sadoh Drive exemplifies what COMPPAS stands for,” said Hon. Ahmed Musa Momoh,
Chief Executive Officer of EdoFEWMA. “This is not just about desilting. It is about
building a culture of shared responsibility. Through door-to-door engagement, town
halls, and media campaigns, we are promoting environmental stewardship and active
community participation.”

“Governor Monday Okpebholo’s administration has prioritised flood control and
resilience building through data-backed infrastructure development and people-centered
interventions. Under his leadership, EdoFEWMA is not only deploying technical
solutions but also deepening public awareness and ownership of climate adaptation
strategies, Momoh added.”

As desilting and maintenance exercise continue across the State, the agency is
committed to expanding COMPPAS to more Communities. The model demonstrated in
Sadoh Drive and Okpe street off Ekehuan road are proof that when Government and
citizens work hand-in-hand, meaningful and lasting environmental impact is possible.

EdoFEWMA continues to call on Communities across the State to take ownership of
flood water infrastructures and key into the COMPPAS initiative to create a sustainable
environment in Edo State.