Jutha Gupah, Damaturu
The Federal Government has inaugurated a Presidential Committee on the implementation of the Nguru Ecological Intervention (NGEI) project in Yobe state.
The nine-committee is to submit its report to the Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi on January 27, 2023.
While inaugurating the Committee, over the weekend (Saturday), in Abuja, Abdullahi disclosed: “We urged all the stakeholders to support Federal Government’s commitments in addressing environmental degradation and climate change in the country.”
According to him, the Emir of Nguru, Alhaji Mustapha Kyari has requested President Muhammadu Buhari to provide ecological funds to mitigate climate change in restoring the degraded lands in his Chiefdom.
He said the Nguru Wetlands alone covers about 3, 500 square kilometers in the state.
The Minister added that Government was committed to tackling climate change and various environmental challenges, including food security and other socio-economic problems in the country.
“The Federal Government is dedicated to improving the general wellbeing of the people,” he said, adding that it was clearly demonstrated through various policies, programmes and initiatives by the Ministry of Environment.
He noted that government alone could not do it, as there should be collaborations of partners and stakeholders that are critical in addressing environmental issues affecting people’s lives and property.
“I am, therefore, particularly excited about the concern and zeal of the Emir of Nguru, Alhaji Kyari to identify with our vision on climate change and mitigation,” he said.
“The degraded dry and wetlands in the country should be restored and mitigated against climate change,” noting that this could improve the livelihoods of the affected people.
He recalled that the Emir of Nguru, on behalf of the Nguru Forest Farmers’ Cooperative Society (NFFCS), requested ecological funds for afforestation of the degraded land.
“This was to mitigate climate change impacts within the Nguru Emirate,” he said.
He said in 2017, the land was cleared through the intervention of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to implementation the livelihoods project tagged: “Rural Agriculture Re-modelled Project Strategies.”
According to him, it is in conformity with the vision and developmental agenda of the present administration.
“We’ve already attained the Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) and global emission reduction,” he said.
Continued: “Mr. President has directed that an inter-ministerial committee, comprising relevant ministries and agencies be set up,” adding that the Committee should provide recommendations and modalities of implementing the project with cost implications.
He said that the committee would also assist in the implementation of government policies on environment and climate change.
He, therefore, urged the committee to ensure that the project’s site was accessible for on-the-spot evaluation in identifying the key interventions.
“You should liaise and work with relevant organisations for funding intervention and provide detailed plans of action,” he said, including the financial implications to complete the project in the state.
He also advised the Committee to ensure that a comprehensive technical report, including recommendations, was submitted to his office.
Responding, the Emir of Nguru, Alhaji Mustapha Kyari, said that the ecological project was to address environmental problems facing the people in the state.
He noted that with the inauguration of the Committee, the incoming administration at the federal level; will continue to implement and complete the project in the Emirate.
Chairperson of the Committee, Mrs. Sami Umar, thanked the Minister for the opportunity given to handle the national assignment on ecological problems and climate change.
“The Committee will work diligently to ensure that the implementation of the project was completed successfully,” she assured.
