Oyo State has been selected as one of the 23 beneficiaries of the European Investment Bank’s (EIB) intervention to tackle erosion and land degradation challenges in Nigeria.
The project falls under the Nigeria Climate Adaptation Erosion and Watershed Project (NEWMAP-EIB), which is supported by the European Union.
Engr. Anda Yalaks, National Project Coordinator of NEWMAP-EIB, announced the news on Tuesday in Ibadan during a courtesy visit to Governor Seyi Makinde.
The visit was part of a scoping mission by the Federal Project Management Unit (FPMU) to assess Oyo State’s preparedness for the project’s implementation and disbursement.
Engr. Yalaks explained that the federal government’s climate adaptation initiative aims to address land degradation in targeted sub-watersheds, improve livelihoods, and promote environmental resilience.
He added that the project, which involves 23 participating states, including Oyo, is part of efforts to ensure sustainable development and strengthen the state’s environmental capacity.
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He commended Governor Makinde for his administration’s approval and release of N500 million as a counterpart fund, along with other key requirements that secured Oyo State’s inclusion in the EIB intervention.
He said, “I’m happy to announce to you that Oyo state has met 100 percent legitimate criteria to attract the funding.”
He confirmed that after conducting an assessment of the prioritized sites which are threat to lives and infrastructural development.
They are therefore considered as candidate sites in line with the conditions precedence of the EIB.
Welcoming the FPMU delegation on behalf of the Governor, the Deputy Governor, Bayo Lawal highlighted some of the achievements of Governor Makinde in demonstrating the highest level of political will to tackle environmental challenges in the state.
He expressed optimism about the project’s potential for success and assured the team of the state’s unwavering support.
“We are already on course and it is an irreversible course, we cannot go back, all the requests you have demanded from us as the state government, we will fulfil. We need to put more efforts in terms of making this partnership a workable one”, he added.
Earlier in his remarks, the Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Abdulmojeed Mogbonjubola commended Governor Makinde for his leadership quality in choosing the prioritized sites in Eruwa, Igbeti, Ibadan and most especially the gully erosion site within the Ladoke Akintola University (LAUTECH) Ogbomoso which is currently a threat to infrastructural development, added that the state is ready for full project implementation take off.
Present at the visit were the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Dr. Sunday Ojelabi, State Project Coordinator, Tayo Ayoade and members of the State Project Management Unit of NEWMAP.