The European Investment Bank (EIB) has selected Oyo State as one of 23 beneficiaries of its erosion intervention project, which aims to address erosion and land degradation challenges in Nigeria.
This announcement was made on Tuesday during a courtesy visit to Governor ‘Seyi Makinde at the state secretariat in Ibadan. The delegation from the Federal Project Management Unit (FPMU), led by National Project Coordinator of NEWMAP-EIB, Anda Yalaks, shared details of the project with the Governor.
The project, which is part of the European Investment Bank-assisted Nigeria Climate Adaptation Erosion and Watershed Project (NEWMAP-EIB), focuses on combating land degradation in specific sub-watersheds, improving livelihoods, and promoting environmental resilience. Yalaks explained that the intervention, supported by the European Union, will be managed by the FPMU and implemented across 23 participating states, including Oyo.
Yalaks praised the Makinde administration for approving and releasing a N500 million counterpart fund, a key requirement that contributed to Oyo State’s inclusion in the project. He also noted that the state had met all the necessary criteria for funding.
During the meeting, Yalaks emphasized that the selected sites, which pose risks to lives and infrastructure, had been prioritized in line with the EIB’s criteria.
Deputy Governor Barr. Bayo Lawal, who represented Governor Makinde, highlighted the administration’s commitment to tackling environmental challenges and expressed confidence in the project’s success. He reassured the delegation of the state’s full support and commitment to meeting all the project’s requirements.
The Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Arch. Abdulmojeed Mogbonjubola, also praised Governor Makinde’s leadership, particularly for selecting critical sites in Eruwa, Igbeti, Ibadan, and the gully erosion site at Ladoke Akintola University in Ogbomoso, which poses a threat to infrastructure.
The meeting was attended by key state officials, including the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, Dr. Sunday Ojelabi, the State Project Coordinator, Barr. Tayo Ayoade, and members of the State Project Management Unit of NEWMAP.