By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
The Permanent Secretary, Ecological Project Office, EPO, Malam Shehu Ibrahim has commended the Federal Government for setting up a Presidential Committee to develop Comprehensive plan on prevention of flooding disasters.
At a media briefing in Abuja on Wednesday, he said the report of the Committee will guide the government in proffering solution to ecological challenge in the country.
The PS said the EPO is considering Public Private Partnership as an alternative funding option to address the over 3000 requests from Civil Society Organizations, Non-governmental Organisations, communities, institutions, States and Local Governments in EPO’s databank for intervention.
He noted that requests run into trillions of Naira, saying that funds from the Federation Account Allocation Committee, FAAC, is insufficient to resolve the emergencies
This is even as the Office has concluded arrangement to join forces with States and Local Governments to garner funding for the execution of more projects.
Ibrahim hinted that EPO cannot resolve all the requests due to paucity of funds, just as he sought for the upscaling of funds reserved for the management of ecological challenges nationwide
“Currently, 2. 32 percent is set aside for the management of ecological challenges nationwide. The Federal Government gets 1.00 percent while the State and Local Governments receive 0.72 and 0.60 percent respectively. 0.55 percent of the Federal Government’s share is utilised by EPO in addressing ecological crisis.
“The Federal government’s one percent share is also distributed among four agencies. They are North East Development Commission, National Agricultural Land Development Authority, National Agency for the Great Green Wall and National Emergency Management Agency
Federal Government set up Ecological fund in order to ameliorate the multifaceted ecological challenges in the hinterland and cities across the country.
This intervention fund was established through the Federation Account Act 1981, based on the recommendation of the Okigbo Commission. It was modified by Decree 36 of 1984 and 106 of 1992, as well as in 2002.
