Nigeria gets $30m World Bank aid on climate change

THE Federal Government in collaboration with the World Bank has earmarked $30 million to support Nigeria’s quest in the fight against climate change in the country, during an interactive meeting with development partners and donors in Abuja, Tuesday

   Country Director of World Bank, Dr. Marie Francoise Marie Nelly, said the money is to support Nigeria’s response to climate change, adding that the project was intended to support the country’s erosion and watershed problems

   Represented by the Senior Environmentalist in the World Bank, Dr. Amos Abuh noted that the “$30 million was actually a facility that formed the component three of the Nigerian erosion and watershed management project, noting that the project is the project of the federal ministry of environment and the Federal Government.”

   She noted that the World Bank is reaffirming its commitment to support Nigeria so that the issue of environment and climate change would be a thing of the past.

   Minister of Environment, Mrs. Laurentia Mallam said, “Environment is a very important aspect of our lives, stressing that without clean and healthy environment all other sectors would be affected and so it is important that we ensure that we have a conducive environment for our country.”

 Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs. Rabi Jimeta said the ministry would work with the media to fashion out ways of promoting and ensuring the core mandate of the ministry in protecting the environment, adding that ordinary Nigerian on the street will know what the ministry stands for.

   Deputy Director in the ministry, Mr. Yerima Peter Tafa said a new agreement was adopted by all parties at the Paris Conference of Parties (COP 21) so as to replace the Kyoto protocol, which is expected to be in force by 2020. 

   Tarfa revealed that parties at the conference also adopted and agreed on the ‘Lima Call for Climate Change Action’, adding that 19 decisions were adopted, 17 under the COP which will help to operationalise the Warsaw international mechanism for loss and damage.