The Commissioner for Environment, Abia State, Mr. Philemon Asonye Ogbonna, on Tuesday, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, represented the Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, as the Federal Government launched the Nigeria Climate Adaptation-Erosion and Watershed Project.
Speaking on the occasion, the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal disclosed that the Federal Government had released the sum of N750 million as the first tranche of its counterpart funding of the project and urged the participating states to demonstrate similar commitment.
He said President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda placed much premium on building climate-start and resilient cities.
In his own speech, the Minister of Finance who was represented by the Director, International Economic Relations Department of the Ministry of Finance, Alkali Mustapha Bello described the project as a testimony of Nigeria’s commitment to climate adaptation, stressing that the collaboration with the European Investment Bank confirms confidence in the country’s environmental agenda.
“Today marks a milestone in our collective effort to safeguard Nigeria’s environmental communities and economy from the adverse effects of climate change, particularly soil erosion and Watershed degradation. This project valued at €175 million, represents a strong demonstration of the partnership between the European Investment Bank and the government of Nigeria”, he said.
One of the major highlights of the ocassion was the inspection of the Abia NEWMAP-EIB booth by the Commissioner for Environment, Mr. Philemon Asonye Ogbonna and the Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Uwaoma Ukandu. Welcoming them to the booth, the Abia State Project Coordinator, Mr. Ikechukwu Ukaegbu, highlighted the State’s level of preparedness and commitment to the implementation of the project.
Present at the event were also; the Accountant General of Abia State, Dr. Njum Uma-Onyemenam, Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Multilateral and Donor Agencies, Mr. Eric Odinaka Eme, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Mr. Ikechukwu Chidozie Oriuwa; the Head, Project Finance Management Unit, Barr. (Mrs. ) Cynthia Umezie; the Director General, Debt Management Office, Dr. Benson K. Nwaigburu.
Twenty three (23) Nigerian states, including Abia are participants in the Nigeria Climate Adaptation-Erosion and Watershed Management Project.
