FG INTRODUCE NEW GUIDELINE ON ECOLOGICAL FUND MGT

FG INTRODUCE NEW GUIDELINE ON ECOLOGICAL FUND MGT
Patrick Osadebamwen

President Umaru Musa Yar’ Adua has appproved a new guideline for the administration of Ecological Fund disbursement and implementation to mitigate the various negetive consequences of the environment in the country.
The Minister of Environment John Odey gave this hint in Abuja while chairing a meeting of the National Committee of Ecological Problem, a Presidential initiative designed to tackle Ecological challenges.
Based on the new guidline, the credit balance in the 1.4% FGN share of derivation and Ecology account wil be allocated to the main ecological sectors with Drought and Desertification Control taking 60% of the fund, Soil Erosion and Flood/Gully Control takes 25% Pollution Control earns 5% while the balance 10% would be used for the administration of Ecological Fund Office and National Committee of Ecological Problems and other emergencies at the discretion of the President.
Odey reiterated the concern of government at the continued state of deplorable environment arising from the desertification, flooding, erosion pollution etc. and pledged that the federal government was committed to reverse the situation for the good of the country.
He pointed out that desertification is currently moving at a disturbing rate thus increaasing the need for southward migration and said the development that calls for concern of all stakeholders requiring the attention of all to tone down.
The minister admitted that the volume of environmental damage across the country cannot be corrected within a short time and called on Nigerians to inculcate good habit in relation to their respective environment.
Odey said most of the environmental challenges in our clime are man made, citing a common example of blocked drainages which ends up redirecting water from its path to other routes, thus creating erosion and floods to the environment causing various degrees of damage.
He asssured Nigerians that government will not be distracted from other ecological challenges while it focuses on these priority areas as the new guide line would make the government proactive in its respond to these problems.