The Permanent Secretary, Ecological Project Office (EPO), Dr. Habiba Lawal has said that the office will continue to sustain its collaboration with relevant agencies and stakeholders to address the ecological needs of Nigerians.
The Permanent Secretary who was represented by the Director, Special Duties, Dr Famous Eseduwo, disclosed this when he received the Director- General of the Nigerian Institute of Social and Economic Research (NISER) on a Courtesy Visit to the office. He stated that the office is committed to ensuring that the policies of government on ecological issues were addressed.
Dr. Eseduwo also said that such issues were profiled and treated on their merits and urgency, subject to availability of funds and that the office already has over 3,000 requests awaiting funding, adding that EPO is always willing to process properly packaged and verified requests.
He further stated that the office draws it’s funding from the Federation Account Allocation Committee’s (FAAC) share of the one per cent of the monthly revenue allocation which is further shared with other agencies of government such as National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) , North East Development Commission (NEDC), National Agricultural and Land Development Authority(NALDA) and the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW).
He, therefore, advised NISER to submit a formal request based on EPO’s approved template, stating all its ecological challenges for verification and capturing in EPO Data Bank for further consideration.
Earlier, the Director-General of NISER, Prof. Anthonia Simbine, said she was on a familiarity visit to EPO having been newly appointed to head the Agency. She recalled that NISER being a foremost research institute in the Country is well equipped to conduct trainings and research programmes across all sectors of governance and therefore, urged EPO to take due advantage of possible collaboration for training needs.
Prof. Simbine, however, said that her major reason for the visit was to seek for urgent intervention on the ecological challenges threatening major parts of the Institute’s complex. Part of the areas affected, she listed to include: the collapsed perimeter fencing, access road to the staff quarters which has been washed away by erosion and also land reclamation. She stated that the flood and erosion menace has poised serious security threats to the institute with incessant attacks from criminal elements, reptiles and wild animals.
She specifically requested for quick intervention for the rebuilding of the affected road, fixing of the collapsed perimeter fence and the land reclamation, pleading that the situation be considered and approved.
Prof. Simbine assured that the institute will continue to collaborate with relevant segments of the society.
Eno Olotu (Mrs)
DD, Press & Public Relations
