Due to unavailability of funds, 2,165 ecological projects across the six geopolitical zones are yet to be attended to.
The permanent secretary of the Ecological Project Office (EPO), Habiba Lawal, disclosed this at the EPO 2021 annual media interactive session.
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She noted that apart from her agency, the National Emergency Management Agency, the National Agency for the Great Green Wall, the National Agricultural Land Development Authority and the North East Development Commission are also drawing from the federal government’s share of the ecological fund.
She said: “Our challenge remains funding arising from many other agencies drawing from the one percent of the federal government share of ecological funds.
“Due to this funding challenge, it has been difficult to address a huge databank of projects received from all stakeholders that cut across the six geo political zones”.
The permanent secretary said 291 projects had been awarded and 253 completed.
She added: “The number of ongoing projects stands at 38, while 19 new projects are undergoing procurement.
“We also have a total of 2,165 requests for intervention requiring N3.096trillion as at 29th November 2021”.
According to her, the Ecological Project Office remains resolute and committed to addressing the numerous ecological challenges across the country.
“It is our hope that as funding improves, we will be able to respond to the ecological challenges of many communities”, she said.
