Oyo State has been listed among the 23 beneficiaries of the intervention of the European Investment Bank in addressing the challenges of erosion and land degradation control in Nigeria.
National Project Coordinator of NEWMAP-EIB Engineer Anda Ayuba Yalaks, made this known on Tuesday in Ibadan when he led the Federal Project Management Unit delegation on a courtesy visit to Governor ‘Seyi Makinde in his office.
The intervention project is under the auspices of the European Investment Bank-assisted Nigeria Climate Adaptation Erosion and Watershed Project (NEWMAP-EIB).
The National Project Coordinator disclosed that the courtesy visit was part of the scoping mission of the Federal Project Management Unit Team to Oyo State to evaluate the state’s readiness as a crucial step towards disbursement and project implementation take off.
According to Engineer Yalaks, the Federal Government has initiated the Climate Adaptation: Erosion and Watershed, succeeding the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP).
It is to address the issue of land degradation in a targeted subwatershed, improve livelihood, and promote environmental resilience for sustainable development.
He added that the project is supported by the European Union and oversees by the Federal Project Management Unit (FPMU), with implementation by the 23 participating states.
Briefing the governor on the pre requisite requirements, Yalaks commended the Governor Makinde-led administration for the approval and release of 500 million naira as counterpart fund and other important requirements which secured the Oyo as one of the 23 states for the EIB intervention.
His words: “I’m happy to announce to you that Oyo State has met 100 per cent percent legitimate criteria to attract the funding.”
Yalaks confirmed, that after conducting an assessment of the prioritised sites which are threat to lives and infrastructural development, they are considered as candidate sites, in line with the conditions precedence of the EIB.
Welcoming the FPMU delegation on behalf of the governor, Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal highlighted some of the achievements of Engineer Makinde in demonstrating the highest level of political will to tackle environmental challenges in the state.
He expressed optimism about the project’s potential for success and assured the team of the state’s unwavering support.
“We are already on course and it is an irreversible course, we cannot go back, all the requests you have demanded from us as the state government, we will fulfil.
“We need to put more efforts in terms of making this partnership a workable one,” the deputy governor said.
Earlier in his remarks, the state Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Abdulmojeed Mogbonjubola commended Governor Makinde for his leadership quality in choosing the prioritised sites in Eruwa, Igbeti and Ibadan.
He especially singled out the gully erosion site within the Ladoke Akintola University (LAUTECH) Ogbomoso which is currently a threat to infrastructural development, adding that the state is ready for full project implementation take off.
