FG unfolds new Ecological Strategy, Pledges Media Support
In line with its vision of effective coordination, implementation and monitoring of Government policies and programmes on environmental and ecological problems as well as providing sustained and adequate financial resources for the amelioration of these problems, the Permanent Secretary, Ecological Fund Office, Dr. Mrs. Habiba Lawal had given a detailed narrative on the workings of the office.
In an interactive meeting held with the media today, at the Treasure Suites in Abuja Central Area, Dr. Lawal told the audience that the purpose of the gathering was to inform the Media, enrich and fine-tune the office working strategies for achieving more effective, holistic, sustainable and community based ecological problem amelioration and interventions.
EFO which is under the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation was created to utilize and manage only the Federal Government’s one percent (1%) share of Ecological and derivation Allocation on serious ecological / environmental issues nationwide. Clarifying further, the Permanent Secretary said that from the 1% share of the Federal Government, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) get 20% and 15% respectively every month. While NEMA has since been accessing theirs, the NAGGW are yet to start accessing theirs. However all the necessary official paper work to facilitate access to the Fund has been done by the Ecological Fund office.
According to Dr. Lawal, due to enormous ecological issues facing this country, requests for intervention are received on a regular basis from different stakeholders namely the State Governments, Local Governments, National Assembly Members, Hon. Ministers, Traditional Rulers, Community Leaders, NGOs and CSOs.
She praised the administration of President Muhamadu Buhari for his approval of a comprehensive nationwide survey of the Ecological Zones including variations, scope and severity of sites across the country which has never happened in the history of our country.
She also highlighted some of the challenges the office is facing such as lack of fund to meet up with the numerous ecological issues in the country, nonchalant attitude of benefitting communities regarding the maintenance of Projects and the insecurity issue in some part of the country.
She therefore enjoined the media to partner with the office in sensitizing the public on the need to take ownership of Projects and maintain any government project within their communities.
Present at the event were the Management staff of Ecological Fund Office and correspondents from different media houses.
Shebioba Y. Y
Deputy Director (Press)
Ecological Fund Office
