Federal Government Launches €175 Million Climate Resilience Project

European Investment Bank , Assisted Nigeria Climate Adaptation, Erosion and Watershed Project (NEWMAP-EIB), has been launched to tackle the destructive impact of gully erosion, land degradation and watershed mismanagement across the country.

Chairman, steering committee of NEWMAP, EIB, who is also the minister of the Federal Ministry of Environment, Mallan Balarabe Lawal described the programs as a glaring evidence of collaboration.

According to him, the European Investment Bank, EIB approved a facility of €175 million for the project that would be implemented over a period of five(5) years across twenty-three (23) states .

He identified theme states as,Abia, Anambra, Akwa -ibom, Borno, cross River, delta , Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Combe, Imo, kaduna kano , katsina, kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo,Oyo, Plateau, and sokoto.

“ The Federal Government has released 750 million naira as the first tranche of counterpart funding to the Federal Project Management Unit to enable preparatory activities necessary for project’s take-off.The success of this project will largely depend on the commitments from state governments. I therefore urge State Governors to increase their counterpart fund contributions just as the Federal Government is also processing another tranche of disbursement. “ He said.

In an overview of the project, the national project coordinator, NEWMAP, Mr Anda Yalaks said the 5 -year project would be structured around Erosion and Watershed Management Infrastructure Investment and community engagement.

Describing it as the first project in sub Sahara Africa that addresses critical areas of climate adaptation and erosion, Head of the EIB, Hub for West and Central Africa. Mr Roger Stuart hinted that the project would create more job opportunities.