Climate Resilience Program: FG Inaugurates 10-Man Steering Committee

The Federal Government has inaugurated a 10-man steering committee for the implementation of the Programme for Integrated Development and Adaptation to Climate Change in the Niger Basin project.

The Minister of Water Resources, Suleiman Adamu, who inaugurated the committee in Abuja, said that it would be responsible for actualising the Nigerian component of the PIDACC project.

Adamu said that the committee would also guide in ensuring the achievement of the project development objectives.

He added that the committee would give approval of the annual work plan and budget, and carry out an appraisal of regular progress reports and financial statements for an informed decision.

“The PIDACC project is to strengthen the resilience of the Niger River’s ecosystems and population through sustainable natural resource management.

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“It will also focus on improving the socio-economic status of women and young people, and their access to resources, a critical factor for eliminating poverty and infant malnutrition,” the minister said.

He said that the ministry had set up the National Programme Coordination Unit, with the appointment and recruitment of key staff to implement the programme after receiving the approval of the Federal Executive Council.

This, he noted, was part of the Financing Agreements with the African Development Bank, European Union, Green Climate Fund, and the Global Environmental Facility.

Also speaking at the inauguration, Baba Musa, National Coordinator of the PIDACC project, said the desilting programme would be implemented in four river basins development agencies.

Musa listed the agencies as including the Anambra-Imo, Upper Niger, Upper Benue and Sokoto-Rima River Basin Development Agencies.

He said, “No fewer than four million smallholder farmers in the nine countries of the Niger Basin will benefit directly, with 51 per cent of them being women.

“The project will build the capacity of smallholder farmers, women and young people through training and the provision of farming, processing and farm produce conversion equipment.

“PIDACC will also improve access to decision-making positions for women, who will constitute at least 30 per cent of members of the various committees that will be set up.’’