REDD+ PROGRAMME EXPANDED IN NIGERIA
Sequel to the FCPF additional finance for forest Carbon emission reduction, Federal Ministry of Environment through the National REDD+ Secretariat intimated the 33 states in the country for expression of interest to key to the Programme. Thus, 17 states clearly expressed their interest.
Considering the number of States that indicated interest, the World Bank FCPF additional grant for REDD+ readiness expansion is not sufficient enough for the 17 states (Edo, Delta, Imo, Akwa Ibom, Ogun, Plateau, Oyo, Kaduna, Enugu, Katsina, Bauchi, Jigawa, Lagos, Gombe, Anambra, Ebonyi and Abia) to do readiness therefore, in line with the good principles of the World bank a transparent selection process was designed.
Accordingly, 17 states were evaluated based on vegetation cover/type, at this point seven (7) states (Akwa Ibom, Edo, Delta, Imo, Plateau, Ogun and Oyo) were pre-qualified and subjected to a scoping process to enable the project promoters select the target three (3) States.
SCOPING MISSSION: The exercise was conducted in two phases by two separate teams. The first team, which assessed Edo, Delta, Imo and Akwa Ibom states, comprised Dr Moses Amah (National Coordinator, Nigeria REDD+ Programme), Ochuko Odibo (Stakeholder Engagement Specialist, Nigeria REDD+ Programme), Kingsley Nwawuba (Monitoring & Evaluation Specialist, Nigeria REDD+ Programme), Ben Ariyo (Representative of Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Environment), Hauwa Umar (Gender and Livelihood Officer, REDD+ Programme), Michael Simire (Environmental
/Media Consultant & Independent Assessor), Chinwe Adindu (Technical Support Staff) and Doris Okafor (Representative of the Director of Forestry).
The second phase entailed visits to Ogun, Oyo and Plateau states and the mission was conducted by the team comprising Dr Moses Amah, Okibe Richard (Communication, REDD+ Programme), Rasak Kolawole Adekola (MRV Specialist), Tijani Ahmad Zakirai (SESA & Safegaurds Officer), Abdullahi Yakubu (Technical Support Officer), Kamiyo Femi (Procurement Officer), Odutola Olalekan (Representative of the Permanent Secretary) and Igbinosa Osakue (Representative of the Director of Forestry).
The leader of both teams and the National Coordinator Nigeria REDD+ Programme, Dr Moses Ama disclosed to all the States visited the criteria for the selection of the three REDD+ additional States to be selected, thus included:
• Having the political will
• Operating community forest management approaches
• Operating functional forest reserves/estates
• Having in place stakeholder engagement strategies
He pointed out that, apart from expanding the programme to three more states, the $4.9 million World Bank grant would likewise be utilised to:
• Develop a National Forestry Monitoring System
• Put in place a Safeguard Information Systems (SIS)
• Support policy reforms that will address REDD+
• Update the nation’s Carbon Inventory, and
• Build capacity
During the scoping mission, officials of the various states visited made disclosures on their forestry development and the management strategies.
...