The World Bank Chief Operating Officer in Nigeria Mrs. Joy Agne, has called on the 19 states participating in Erosion and watershed projects (NEWMAP) to meet the bank requirements so as to enable them access S400 million dollar loan.
Agne made the call at the opening ceremony of a four-day workshop for the 19 states on the commencement of World Bank supervision Mission of Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP) on Wednesday.
The workshop is holding in Katsina.
She said: “The Bank has initially set aside 500 million dollars for erosion control in seven selected states of southern Nigeria, but later included some states to become 19 states.
“The four day workshop is organized by World Bank officials to educate the management staff of 19 participating states in Nigeria on how to access the 400 million Dollars additional funds.
“The staff of the Bank will teach NEWMAP coordinating officers on ways to meet the necessary requirements set by the bank before March 2019 as the World Bank may likely push the money to another sector if the states failed to meet the requirements.”
Agne therefore called on the participating states to hasten and meet the World Bank requirements before March 2019 in order to benefit from the projects.
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She explained that he Bank expects the participating states to enact the laws and be ready to sign all the necessary agreements that will make erosion control possible.
“For now, Enugu and Katsina states are the only states that had created enabling environment for the NEWMAP projects to commence,” she disclosed.
Earlier, the National Coordinating Officer of NEWMAP, Alhaji Dahiru Salisu, said that the NEWMAP project belongs to Nigeria and is being supported by the World Bank.
“The world bank is ready to assist Nigeria to control its erosion without waiting for Legislative Budget.
“The World Bank money is most difficult funds to spend as it needs certain requirement to meet before accessing it.
“This workshop is designed by the World Bank to meet, interact and know the commitment of participating states in order to know their area of training needs” he said
The coordinating officer said that the bank has set aside 900 million Dollars but later realized that it would not be enough for the control of erosion in Nigeria.
He added that the European investment Bank had promised to pump 200 million Dollars into the project.
