The Permanent Secretary Ecological Project Office (EPO), Dr. Habiba Lawal on behalf of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Boss Mustapha today, Thursday, 9th June, 2022, received on a courtesy visit to her office, a delegation led by His Royal Highness, Eze Kingsley Ezewunwa, Odu of Agwa Ukwu, Dindi 1 of Dindi of Ihiagwa Autonomous Community, Owerri West Local Government Area of Imo State.
Speaking at the occasion, the Permanent Secretary expressed delight to receive the delegation on behalf of the SGF.
Dr Lawal explained that the office was set up to address critical ecological challenges across the federation through funding from the Federal Accounts Allocation Committee (FAAC), to the tune of 0.55% of the total of 1% sharing formula as Ecological and Derivation Fund for the management of ecological problems in Nigeria.
She noted that the office desired to intervene in the over 1,800 requests presently at its disposal but lamented that the monthly allocation from FAAC was grossly inadequate to meet all the requests. She therefore appealed to the state governments to partner with the Federal Government for more robust interventions, particularly on cases relating to their various domains
The Permanent Secretary however assured the delegation that the Soil Erosion Department in the office would visit the site to ascertain the level of devastation in order to capture the site in the office’s data bank for consideration when the need arises and subject to availability of resources.
HRH Eze Kingsley Ezewunwa, had earlier made a passionate appeal to the Federal Government through EPO to come to the aid of the community on the devastating effect of flood and gully erosion problems since 2015.
He said the community has suffered untold hardship and severe losses including: loss of lives, homes, properties and sources of income as a result of the menace.
Nnorom Ugomma J
Principal Executive Officer I
For DD Press/Head ,Public Relations Unit EPO
Eno Olotu (Mrs.)
