Land degradation, with its resulting consequences have increasingly exacerbated Nigeria’s social and economic status and as the country recovers from the effects of Covid-19, the federal government in collaboration with development planners have commenced mobilization actions under the eight funding replenishment of the Global Environment Facility (GEF-8). This is posed to help stakeholders tackle environmental degradation and its drivers in the country. Global Environmental Facility is one of the largest acclaimed and experienced multilateral fund dedicated to tackling threats to the environment. The fund helps developing countries prioritize environmental actions that enhances global environmental sustainability. Some of the implementing agencies include Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), as well as United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).
Included in the programme was a 2-day 12th GEF Steering Committee Meeting which was collaboratively organized by the Federal Ministry of Environment and FAO which took place last week in Abuja and was aimed at sensitizing people about the new facility. The GEF allocation to Nigeria under the GEF-8 cycle is $21,410 million. The Minister of Environment, Mohammed Abdullahi, in his keynote address, whilst urging for integrated approaches for addressing the environmental problems, noted that the meeting was significantly strategic when considered in view of the emerging issues succeeding the Covid-19 crisis and also the coincidence of the recent GEF cycle with a new programming direction which will properly inform stakeholders with the GEF operations and standards.
GEF programme set to help engender sustainable global environment.
The Minister, represented by the Director, planning, statistics/GEF operations Focal Point, Mallam Jonah Stanley, indicated that the programme would help in engendering the sustainability and rehabilitation of the global environment. He insisted that it was very necessary for recipient companies to utilize the seed grant and mobilizing the masses towards ensuring that environmental degradation is contained. Abdullahi urged experts in this field to utilize the forum as a means for locking a new level of synergy that will help the government and other stakeholders take collective and individual climate actions towards the environment.
He insisted that they must all see themselves as agents of renaissance. He said that all the experts must collectively act now, as their creative efforts would be of immense help in shaping the collective resolve to improve the environment. The FOA representative in Nigeria, Mr. Fred Kafeero, who was also represented by Climate Change Specialist, Ms. Nifesimi Ogunkua, said that FAO was a huge support system for countries globally in addressing the challenges between environment, agriculture, forestry, marine and freshwater resources.
FOA to support Nigeria’s greenhouse gas emission reduction target.
On stating the collaborative impact and technical awareness of FOA, the FOA representative further explained that FOA had been of immense help to many governments in convening diverse stakeholders, implementing partnerships, as well as mobilizing resources for Nigeria’s government to design and deliver projects useful for attaining sustainable results in the GEF-8 focal areas. He disclosed that FOA would make provide knowledge, experience and technical assistance in the diverse sectors such as biodiversity, climate change, international waters and land degradation.
Mr. Kafeero stated that FOA would provide major support and partnership as proposed in the GEF-8 integrated programmes, especially in the food system, ecosystem restoration, Amazon, critical forest biomes and wildlife conservation for the development and sustainability of cities. He thus promised FOA Nigeria’s support to enhance Nigeria’s greenhouse gas emission reduction target, as well as the country’s global commitment under the United Nations Framework Convention in regards to climate change.
Stakeholders resolve that FG must redeem its pledge to the GEF Trust Fund.
Aleriwon Daniel, the GEF Desk Officer also noted that GEF funding windows for projects ranging from full sized projects, from $2 million and above, medium sized projects with a budget of up to $2 million and small grant programmes, budgeted at the maximum of $50,000. Upon ending the meeting, stakeholders resolved that the federal government must redeem its promises to the GEF Trust Fund. They also hammered on the need to build synergy among the actors in the sector, to ensure the sustainability of environment in Nigeria. They also noted that competent consultants must be employed to enlighten stakeholders on project development, in line with the GEF focal areas.
Related Link
GEF: Website
FG/FAO seek approach to curb land degradation. – GEF Steering Committee Meeting to sensitize people about the new GEF facility. – Express your point of view.
Federal Government should be ready to do and put in the work to stop land degradation. The relevant agencies should begin to work and ready to effect changes.
The problem of land degradation is getting out of hand in the country and even all over Africa continent and majority of the cause are human factors which can be prevented but the I don’t care attitude has really eaten deep in people mind.
It is really important for the provision for the fund. The fund will helps developing countries prioritize environmental actions that enhances global environmental sustainability.
Land degradation and the negative effects it has on society and the economy have contributed to Nigeria’s increasingly precarious situation.
Mobilization efforts for the eighth round of money replenishment for the Global Environment Fund have been kicked up by the United States federal government in partnership with development planners.
This question is intended to assist stakeholders in the fight against environmental degradation and the factors that contribute to it in the country.
Taking into account the new problems that have arisen in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis and the fact that the most recent GEF cycle coincided with a shift in programming focus, this discussion was highly strategic.
The fund assists less developed nations in prioritizing environmental initiatives, which in turn improves the environmental sustainability on a worldwide scale.
In order to educate stakeholders on project development in a manner that is congruent with the GEF’s priority areas, qualified consultants need to be recruited.
the necessity of fostering coordination among the various participants in the sector in order to guarantee the continuity of environmental protection in Nigeria.
We need stop land degradation it issue is getting hard the negative effect is much which we need to stop it
A shift in programming priorities coincided with the most recent GEF cycle, therefore this conversation was very important in light of the new difficulties that have arisen in the wake of the Covid-19 crisis.
Deterioration of land and its associated social and economic costs has exacerbated Nigeria’s already vulnerable predicament. To effectively combat this threat, government action is required.
The federal government needs to be willing to take action and make the necessary investments to halt land deterioration. The appropriate bodies need to get to work immediately, prepared to make adjustments.
GEF Steering Committee Meeting to sensitize people about the new GEF facility. We are blessed with good land for crops and other usage. We only have poor management and corrupt government
More lands are being degraded due to human activities and climatic factors. The fact FG/FAO attention drawn towards seeking the approach to curbing land degradation shows that we are on the right tract. After series of meeting actions is very important in to actually curb the land degradation.
It is not just enough to have meetings upon meetings without carrying out the deliberations. Now that the attention of the Federal Government and Food and Agricultural Organisation have being drawn towards it, it will be better to consult appropriate quarters in other to resolve the lingering land degradation cause by Climatic factor and human activities.
the importance of encouraging collaboration among the various actors in the field to ensure the sustainability of environmental safeguards in Nigeria.
The US federal government has stepped up its mobilization for the eighth cycle of funding replenishment for the Global Environment Fund in collaboration with development planners.
The provision for the fund is really crucial. The fund will assist poor nations in setting environmental priorities that will improve the sustainability of the environment worldwide.