Kogi to benefit from $508m loan to clean environment

Kogi state is set to benefit from the eight-year Strategic Investment Loan (SIL) of $508.59 million to ameliorate the effect of environmental degradation in the state.

The project which was in collaboration with the International Development Association (IDA), the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Trust Fund, and the Federal Government of Nigeria would be implemented by the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP).

Addressing the representatives of the World Bank and the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project at Government House, Lokoja, the state governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello said environmental degradation and its challenges had been a serious problem in Kogi state, adding that in the recent time the people of the state have been suffering as a result of environmental disaster. He lamented that the state does not have the fund to tackle the ugly situation.

“It is a good thing now that the international donor agency and World Bank are coming together to assist us.

“This will go a long way in making impart in the lives of our people, especially the rural dwellers.

“I am very satisfied with the presentation of the agency and ours is to pay a token as part of counterpart funding. We will conduct them round the state so that they can see areas of challenges and how best they can attend to it” the governor said.

Governor Bello, who pointed out that the state contribution depend on the level of challenges, urged the representatives to go round, interact with the communities and also visit erosion sites, saying their findings will determine how much will be required and the amount the state government would contribute for the project.

Earlier, the Kogi state project coordinator, Barrister Ladi Ahmed Jato stated that the project started by the federal government in collaboration with World Bank and states government paying counterpart funding.

Jato, who mentioned that 26 states have been benefiting from the project since 2013, said the objective of the project is to reduce the vulnerability of erosion targeted areas in the country and reverse land degradation.

According to her, “we have gone round the erosion sites in the state. The level of devastation in the state is alarming as many people are living with constant fear of menace of erosion.

“The project is for eight years and it has started counting since 2013. The government of Nigeria’s contribution would amount to $150m. This project had started in 27 states including Kogi and because the state is new in the project the time will be extended”.