Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Ebonyi among 23 states to benefit from federal government €175 Million EIB fund to fight erosion
By Missang AKPET
The Federal Government is set to tackle erosion in 23 states across Nigeria with a €175 million facility from the European Investment Bank (EIB).
The initiative which will be executed under the European Investment Bank (EIB) Assisted Nigeria Climate Adaptation – Erosion and Watershed Project (NEWMAP-EIB), aims to build on the achievements of the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP-IDA), which was supported by the World Bank.
The 23 states benefiting from the project are Abia, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Borno, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu, Ekiti, Gombe, Imo, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kogi, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Plateau, and Sokoto.
The project billed to be implemented over five years and is expected to provide a lasting solution to climate change issues including flooding, erosion, and land degradation.
Speaking at the launch in Abuja, the Minister of Environment, Alhaji Balarabe Lawal, stated that the Federal Government has fulfilled all conditions for its implementation adding that the project will be overseen by a Federal Steering Committee, chaired by the Minister of Environment, and a Technical Committee, chaired by the Permanent Secretary.
The Federal Government of Nigeria has fulfilled all the outlined conditions precedent for the implementation of this project, Consequently, the European Investment Bank (EIB) Assisted Nigeria Climate Adaptation – Erosion and Watershed Project (NEWMAP-EIB) is now disbursement-effective.”
“In 2020, the Federal Government secured additional financing from the European Investment Bank (EIB) to expand the scope of the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) which the EIB approved a facility of €175 million aimed at building upon and deepening the achievements recorded under NEWMAP-IDA, using the Strategic Watershed Management approach".
"The project became technically effective in 2023 with disbursement-effective in 2025 and will be implemented over a period of five (5) years across twenty-three (23) states" Lawal said"
On his part, the National Project Coordinator of NEWMAP-EIB, Engr. Anda Ayuba Yalaks, described the project as one which will find a lasting solution to issues of climate change as it involves environmental degradation and advanced flooding across the country as the project will provide the technical assistance necessary to ensure the effective delivery and management of erosion
