The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved the sum of N5.567bn for the 3rd Quarter Soil Erosion Control Accelerated Intervention to six States, as part of measures to tackle erosion problems in the affected States.
The approval was given during the Federal Executive Council meeting, headed by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
Briefing Journalists on the outcome of the meeting in Abuja, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, listed the six beneficiary States to include: Kano, Sokoto, Ondo, Osun, Bayelsa and Enugu State respectively.
Statistics shows that the worst hit State in the Country by erosion is Anambra State, followed by Enugu, Abia and Imo States respectively. However, only Enugu State was captured among the beneficiary States.
Meanwhile, in April 2017, the Federal Government commissioned a multi-million Naira erosion control project at Udi Local Government Area, Enugu State which was abandoned about ten years ago.
The Obinagu/Akpulu/Enugueze-Umunneobagu Soil Erosion and Control Project Phase 1, which was executed through the Ecological Fund office, had suffered several delays before it was completed late last year.
In October 2016, Erosion Control Works at Nda, Nnobi and, Agbor, Idemili Local Government Area of Anambra State; Owalla – Avuvu Erosion Control Works (Phase II) in Imo State; Amper Flood Hazards and Erosion Control Works; Gully Erosion Control Works at Federal Government College, Itobi in Benue State amongst others were mentioned as projects that would be covered by the ecological funds.
The following month, it was reported that erosion carved Nyahasang community, a suburb of Calabar, Cross Rivers State, into three and swept homes away, causing victims to relocate.
The World Bank in collaboration with the Federal and State Governments however raised the sum of N4bn, through the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project, (NEWMAP), and with innovative engineering process, the erosion was curtailed. Houses that were on the brink of being swept away were salvaged and large portions of land reclaimed for the Communities.
Climate Change Bill
The Climate Change Bill was sponsored by Hon. Sam Onuigbo who said there was the need for a strong National Institution to address the effects of Climate Change.
He noted that the absence of laws on issues of climate change has scared investors from the Country.
“The early coming into force of the 2015 Paris Climate agreement reinforced the necessity of climate change legislation”.
Onuigbo pointed out that the bill will provide a framework for a Federal Budget appropriation process that institutionalises transparency, and accountability of climate related sources, including international climate finance.
He stated that the Climate Change bill would be transmitted to the Senate for concurrence and subsequently to the President for assent.
“Every leader determines what happens to his subjects, and the President has given climate change a go, by signing the UN treaty on Climate Change and his subsequent speeches back home”.
The bill when signed into law will be charged with the responsibility of advising the Federal Government on policies and priorities on the International Climate change regime and its effect on the country, establish programmes for the prevention, reduction and elimination of greenhouse gases in the Nation’s air, land and inter-state waters amongst others.
2015 Paris Climate Agreement
The agreement aims at responding to the global climate change threat, by keeping a global temperature rise above pre-industrial levels, and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase.
It seeks to increase the ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change in a manner that does not threaten food production.
The agreement also aims at making finance flows consistent with a pathway towards low greenhouse gas emissions and climate-resilient development.
In the Paris Agreement, each Country determines plans and regularly reports contributions made in order to mitigate global warming.
In June 2017, U.S. President Donald Trump announced his intention to withdraw the United States from the agreement, causing widespread criticisms.
Ecological Funds
Based on recommendation by the Okigbo Commission in 1981, the ecological fund was established through the Federation Account Act (1981).
The Act was subsequently modified by Decrees 36 of 1984 and 106 of 1992; and further modified through the Allocation of Revenue/Federation Account, (modification) order of July 8, 2002.
The Fund which originally received 1% of the Federation Account was reviewed upwards to 2% of the Federation Account in 1992.
From its inception in 1981, it provides resources for amelioration of ecological problems such as soil erosion, flood, drought, desertification, oil spillage, pollution, general environmental pollution, storm, tornadoes, bush fire, crop pest, landslide, earthquakes etc.
Chapter A15 (5) (4) of the Allocation of Revenue (Federation Account etc) Act says:
“An amount equivalent to two per cent of the Federation Account shall be paid into a fund to be administered by an Agency to be set up for that purpose for the amelioration of general ecological problem in any part of Nigeria, in accordance with directives as may be issued from time to time by the National Assembly”.
