FG commits to green economy

TOWARDS facing the challenges and looming threat of climate change and its implication to developing nations, the Federal Government has pledged to adequately tackle the menace through the developmental programmes and projects that will upscale Nigeria’s green economy.

The Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Fatima Nana Mede made the pledge in an opening remark at the a two-day GEF National Steering Committee Meeting in Abuja, last week, where she committed to developing the economy to upscale the environment in the areas of climate change, biodiversity, eco-systems preservation, desertification, forest, land and water management.

Mede who was represented by Director, Planning, Research and Statistics/ GEF Operational Focal Point, Mr. Yomi Ladapo, noted that collective efforts will assist in attaining the goals of sustainable development and green economy.

Meanwhile, stakeholders at the 9th Global Environment Facility (GEF) national steering committee meeting has urged the Federal Government to fulfill its co-funding obligations to the GEF Trust Fund.

The appeal is contained in a communiqué after the two-day meeting in Abuja.
The communiqué commended the Federal Government for making appreciable efforts to redeem its outstanding pledges to the fund.

“The GEF Secretariat should deepen its relations with CSOs and all coordinators of GEF projects should adhere strictly to its monitoring and evaluation requirements.

“The environmental action plan should go beyond campaigns and manifestoes,’’ it stated.

The communiqué noted that the stakeholders resolved that the ecological fund office should be domiciled in the Federal Ministry of Environment to enhance an effective utilisation of the fund for environmental projects.

The communiqué further stated that the stakeholders resolved that environmental laws and the mandates establishing environmental agencies should be streamlined for effective service delivery.

In addition, it said that stakeholders expressed concerns that there were conflicts in the mandate establishing several environmental agencies. “There is inadequate communication between the GEF office and some of its project managers.”