By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
The Director-General, National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW), Mr Saleh Abubakar has assured development partners of the transparent utilization of support grants.
He gave the assurance at an interactive session with the Federal Ministry of Environment, NAGGW and Sec and Diarra & Sages Consult Group in Abuja on Wednesday.
He said NAGGW is conscious of impact of developmental projects on beneficiaries, and will ensure it’s implementation.
Mr. Jonah Stanley, Operational Focal Point for the Global Environment Facility (GEF), said funds of 3.28 million dollars would tackle land degradation in Kebbi with the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) initiative.
“The project aligned for Nigeria, is to be carried out by NAGGW, recently GEF approved 3.28 million dollars to deal with dry lands land degradation and ecosystem regeneration amongst others in Kebbi.
Stanley who is also a Director, Planning Research and Statistics in the Ministry of Environment said that (GEF) is a funding mechanism that supports over 185 countries around the world including Nigeria dealing with issues of environment.
He said that Nigeria has benefited from GEF over the years saying the supports come in circles and that Nigeria is now in GEF 8 circle which started in 2022 and would last till 2026.
On his part, Prof. Robert Yougbar representative from Sec and Diarra & Sages Consult Group said the target of the funds is to get the land restored and community resuscitation.
Also, Dr Innocent Alenyi Ag. Director Planning Policy and Coordinator NAGGW commended the establishment of its agency to tackle deforestation and land degradation amongst others.
He said that civil societies are key to the agency’s initiative in the country.
