By Gab Alokwe – Abuja, Nigeria
The Federal Government of Nigeria in collaboration with the European Union has launched the European Investment Bank-Assisted Nigeria Climate Adaptation-Erosion and Watershed Project (NEWMAP-EIB) in Abuja.
The project aims to address climate change, erosion, flooding and watershed management issues in 23 states across Nigeria. The NEWMAP-EIB project is to be implemented over a period of 5 years, 2025 to 2030 with promise of additional funding.
In his speech, the Federal Minister of Environment, Balaraba Abbas Lawal, stated that Nigeria is facing the consequences of climate change and emphasized the need to protect the environment.
He noted that the European Investment Bank has decided to support the program due to the transformational results and achievements recorded by the NEWMAP project under the World Bank, which had mitigated gully erosion, improved community livelihoods, and strengthened institutional capacities towards environmental sustainability.
The project is supported by a €175 million low-interest facility from the European Investment Bank and will focus on soil erosion and Watershed management in 23 states, including Anambra State, arguably the erosion capital of the world, creating thousands of jobs for Nigerians.
Ambassador of the European Union to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gautier Mignot, stated that the European Union is committed to investing 30% of its activities in climate actions and had dedicated 60% of its activities to climate change in 2023 and 2024.
The Head, European Investment Bank (EIB) Regional Hub for West and Central Africa, Mr. Roger Stuart said the project is designed to protect communities and enhance soil formation for climate adaptation.
The National Project Coordinator of NEWMAP-EIB, Engineer Anda Ayuba Yalaks, stated that the project will restore landscape, support livelihoods and promote sustainable development.
Anambqra State Governor, Professor Charles Chukwuma Soludo CFR represented by his Commissioner for Environment, Engineer Dr Felix Odimegwu, thanked the Federal Government and the European Investment Bank for facilitating the fund.
He informed that Anambra State has over 1,000 active gully erosion sites threatening 160 communities and will use the fund to complete uncompleted projects and tackle new ones.
Project Coordinator NEWMAP-EIB Anambra State, Professor Philip Phil-Eze, said the state is devastated by gully erosion and will begin to tackle this existential threat with the launch of the NEWMAP-EIB project.
Professor Phil-Eze hinted Governor Soludo has selected three erosion sites in addition to the five uncompleted under the World Bank NEWMAP, and had earlier paid the counterpart fund of ₦500 million Naira to meet the precedent for the state to participate in this programme.
