The Minister of Environment, Balarabe Abbas Lawal, has stated that his office has provided the sum of N750m and an office space as its own counterpart funding for the commencement of European Investment Bank ( EIB ) and NEWMAP project for tackling erosion and flooding in Nigeria.
He disclosed this while declaring open a 2-day NEW MAP/EIB/ UNOPS joint mission for the disbursement of funds to the participating states.
Lawal, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mahmud Adam Kambari, reaffirmed that with the personalities in attendance, all issues delaying the commencement of EIB funding will be unbundled.
He emphasised that the mission takes cognizance of the current rainy season window to come up with low hanging fruits activities which will usher in implementation as the government cannot wait any longer to kick start the project with the hope of giving relief to the people that were badly affected with erosion and flooding nationwide.
Earlier, The NEWMAP National Project Coordinator, Mr. Andy Ayuba Yalak in his welcome remarks called on the participating states to adhere to the guidelines to facilitate the release of EIB funding.
Yalak further encouraged the project coordinators to make provision for their counterpart funding, office space and utility vehicles in line with EIB requirements before the disbursement of funds.