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NAGGW to Reps probe Panel: We Spent N3,866 to plant a tree in Northern Nigeria

By Obiabin Onukwugha

The House of Representatives ad-hoc committee investigating the utilization of Ecological Funds and other intervention funds, on Wednesday, commenced investigation into claims by the National Agency for Great Green Wall (NAGGW), that it spent about N8.2billion in planting 21 million trees in eleven northern states of Nigeria. That means, spending approximately 3,866 naira on a tree.

The 10th Assembly of the House of Representatives, since it’s proclamation in June this year, had launched over 50 probes aimed at digging into alleged misappropriation and mismanagement of funds and other infractions by MDAs.

The Great Green Wall Initiative for the Sahara and Sahel programme was initiated and adopted by the Head of Governments and States of the African Union in 2005 to address the issues of desertification, land degradation, bio-diversify loss, promote climate change resilience by ecosystems and communities, and improve food security in the about twenty-one countries of the Sahel region in Africa.

The initiative does not literally mean to “build a green wall” but about Sustainable Land Management and restoration program adapted to the development priorities of the countries involved.

The National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW), was therefore set up by the Federal Government of Nigeria in 2015, through an Act of Parliament, as part of its commitment to contribute to the African Union’s Great Green Wall of the Sahara and Sahel Region Initiative.

It is a coordinated effort to address issues of land degradation, desertification, ensure ecosystem management and restoration, protect the country’s natural capital, provide sustainable development of land resources, and ultimately ensure that the country’s ecosystem is prepared to withstand the travails of climate change.

States focused by the NAGGW establishment, included; Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Sokoto, Yobe and Zamfara, which livelihood of residents have been affected by desertification.

Grilling the NAGGW, Chairman of the Ad Hoc Committee, Rep. Isma’ila Dabo,  decried the persistent of environmental challenges in spite of funds put into the programme.

He said the funds put by the Federal Government and international partners without visible results, necessitated the investigation, stating that the committee will embark on an on-the-spot assessment tour to all the projects executed under this scheme to ascertain the claims.

He said the committee was not out to scandalise any individual or organisation but only to ensure that public funds were utilised for the purpose they were given.

“We will not shy away from pointing fingers where necessary, not out of personal animosity but simply in the national interest of our nation”, he said.

Answering to questions posed to him by the Ad hoc Committee, the NAGGW Director-General, Yusuf Maina Bukar, stated that the agency planted trees in eleven states of the north.

The states included; Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Yobe and Borno.

The NAGGW Director-General also informed that the agency spent N697.71m on renovation of office accommodation and N11.28bn on capital projects.

He said the main funding of the agency was from 15 per cent of the Ecological Funds and the federal allocation as well as other sources for its operations.

When contacted by NatureNews correspondent, Communication Officer of NAWGG, Pauline Sule declined further comments, saying investigation is ongoing.

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