Abuja – The Federal Government, on Monday said it had commenced utilization of the N28 billion support it got from International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) for tackling climate change in parts of the country.
At a meeting with House of Representatives Committee on Climate Change, Dr Shehu Ahmed, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that the money was insufficient to handle the necessary issues of the climate and environment.
He added that the government was ensuring its prudent use for tree planting and afforestation.
Ahmed, represented by Mr Sunday Edibo, Director, Agricultural Land and Climate Change, said that government through the ministry had started the planting of five million trees with the support of Great Greenworld.
He explained that the project of the government was on the environment in some northern states of the country which include, Katsina, Kebbi, Yobe and Zamfara,.
He added that the adaptation project was expected to last for five years.
Ahmed expressed displeasure that the commitment of the ministry in ensuring green environment was being toned down with the movement of forestry unit from the ministry to Federal Ministry of Environment.
He sought increased budgetary provisions in keeping with the tenets of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, which he said Nigeria was a signatory to.
In her remarks, Rep. Sodaguno Festus-Omoni, (Bayalsa State), who chaired the committee meeting, pledged legislative commitment to all aspects of climate change in the country.
She said that the committee would soon begin oversights into 2015 and 2016 budgets performances of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, especially as regards appropriations on climate change.
This is to materialize the flow of 100 billion dollars per year by 2020 in support of climate action by developing ones.
