By Victoria Onyisi
The Permanent Secretary, Ecological Project Office (EPO), Mallam Shehu Ibrahim, has reiterated President Bola Tinubu’s determination to address the ecological needs of Nigerians.
The revelation emerged following the briefing by the Ecological Project Office to the President on the state of the environment, its activities, mandate and statutory obligation on remediation of the environment affected by disasters across the country.
The Permanent Secretary, also reiterated federal government’s commitment towards the continuation of the implementation of critical ecological projects in the country in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu.
The disclosure was made the during the courtesy visit by Oba Victor Adeleke Bobade, the Onire of Ire Ekiti, Ekiti State to his office in Abuja.
Ibrahim, informed the royal father that the Ecological fund is shared by the Federal Government through the Federal Accounts and Allocation Committee (FAAC) is further shared to the three tiers of government which are the Federal, States and the Local Government Areas.
He explained that while the share of the states and the local government areas percentages are directly disbursed to them, the Federal Government’s portion of the fund is domiciled with the Federal Ministry of Finance and not with the ecological project office as often misconstrued by some Nigerians.
Ibrahim, commended the monarch for earlier submitting the necessary documents before the courtesy visit which he said was the required documentation procedure in facilitating government’s intervention, adding that his request has already been captured in the office’s data bank for ease of reference and further action.
Earlier, the Oba had earlier briefed the Permanent Secretary on the havoc wrecked by incessant flooding of his community farmlands and roads during the raining seasons.
According to him, this has resulted in the loss of several lives and property and has also brought untold economic hardship to the people.
He also stated that the visit was a reminder to a previous request submitted to the office and appealed to the federal government through the Ecological Project Office for urgent intervention to ameliorate the suffering of the people .
Present at the event were, Director, Pollution Control, Mr.Clinton Igwe, Director, Special Duties, Mr. Yakubu Habu, Director, Procurement, Dr. Simon Omachoko.
Others include, Director, Drought Desertification and Coastal Zones Management, Mr. Samuel Igagu, Deputy Director, Soil Erosion and Flood Control, Mr Alabi.