CSO faults Reps for NAGGW’s N81.2bn expenditure

A Civil Society Organisation known as the Budget Implementation, Assessment, Evaluation, and Monitoring Committee has raised objections to the House of Representatives’ claims regarding the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) allegedly spending N81.2 billion on planting 21 million trees.

Mr. Ogakwu Dominic, the Coordinator of the CSO, refuted these claims during a press briefing held in Abuja.

The Ad Hoc Committee, responsible for investigating the utilisation of ecological funds allocated to NAGGW, had unveiled an expenditure of N81.2 billion supposedly used for planting 21 million trees across 11 states.

Dominic argued that the committee’s assertions lacked merit, emphasising that their organization’s role included ongoing monitoring and evaluation of all activities carried out by the agency.

This encompassed reviewing zonal intervention projects and all constituency projects of the national assembly housed within NAGGW.

Dominic clarified that the allocated amount was not exclusively designated for tree planting; instead, it served other purposes in alignment with the agency’s responsibilities.

He stressed that NAGGW possessed a distinct mandate, namely, the transformation of Nigerian Drylands through an ambitious and comprehensive tree-planting initiative.

Emphasising the necessity of verifying facts, he said it will help to prevent any misrepresentation that might undermine the agency’s goals and accomplishments.

Furthermore, he praised Mr. Yusuf Bukar, the Director General of the agency, for his transparency in managing all aspects of the agency.

“In its commitment to transparency and service,” Dominic remarked, “the agency has actively supported local, national, and international conferences dedicated to promoting extensive tree planting. This has fostered a green society, yielding ecological benefits and safeguarding the nation’s ecological habitats.”

He pointed out that these efforts aligned with the United Nations’ habitat agenda and climate policies. Notable programmes included the Bonny Island Green Wall Development Programme and the Northern Sahara Desert Great Green Wall Programme, among others.

The alleged 21 million trees were reported to have been planted across 11 states: Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Yobe, and Borno.

NAN