By Fatima Saka
Stakeholders have revealed that the national fund of 2% Ecological fund for ministry of environment, ministry of water resources and ministry of agriculture are meant for the development of the grass roots.
This was revealed by the stakeholders at two days national stakeholders’ technical meeting of West Africa coastal Areas Management (WACA) program organized by Federal ministry of Environment and World Bank which ended on Friday in Abuja.
As the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment, Engr. Hassan Musa revealed that the aim of WACA program is to support countries obtained finance and experts for the management of sustainability in coastal areas, that following after the establishment since 2015 by the world bank in respect to the demands from countries in west Africa region in combating growing coastal erosion and flooding dilemma.
Speaking on, Engr. Musa said the WACA is designed to improve the livelihood of coastal communities in West Africa by reducing the vulnerability of its coastal areas and promoting climate-resilient integration of coastal management.
However, the coastal state which face with unforeseen circumstances are Delta State, Lagos, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Ondo, Ogun and Bayelsa state. All of these states have communities and villages which have almost or been destroyed by the sea, with their major challenges like contaminated water, erosion, infrastructure, sea press, ecosystem and little or no diversification among others.
In addition, other relevant stakeholders include, Federal Ministry of Finance, federal ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, Federal Ministry of Transport, Federal Ministry of Water Resources, Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, NOSDRA, NIMASA,NPA,NIWA,EPO,NIMET,NIMAR and others.
Meanwhile, NatureNews Africa with one of the pioneer who expressed his thought on the development of WACA and the stakeholders, Dr. Dawuda Gowon, the pioneer director of coastal erosion and flood control, said that the World Bank and federal ministry of environment who have submitted request on shows line on coastal erosion and flood control, reiterated that they are at top situations, that after post seminars they proceed to the next steps and they are incurring due process in ensuring everything moves on smoothly, before proceeding to the next stage.