Niger State has been selected as one of 23 beneficiaries of the Nigeria Climate Adaptation, Erosion and Watershed Project (NEWMAP-EIB), an initiative supported by the European Investment Bank (EIB) to tackle erosion, land degradation, and climate vulnerabilities.
The National Project Coordinator of NEWMAP, Engr. Anda Yalak, represented by Natural Resource Specialist Kingsley Nwawuba, confirmed the state’s qualification during a courtesy visit to Governor Umaru Bago (represented by Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Abubakar Gawu) in Minna on Monday.
Niger State met key requirements including counterpart funding, office space, staff, and operational vehicles, paving the way for disbursement under the EIB-backed intervention. The project will focus on strengthening climate resilience, reducing erosion risks, and improving community livelihoods.
During the scoping mission, officials inspected high-risk erosion sites at Keteren Gwari, M.I. Wushishi Estate, FUT–Hayin Gwari, and the Mechanic Village axis. Nwawuba stressed the urgency of addressing these sites to safeguard lives, homes, and infrastructure.
The state government pledged its full commitment to the project. “Niger State, the largest in land mass, has long faced water-related challenges. This project is both timely and strategic,” Gawu stated, assuring that all counterpart obligations would be met.
Officials from the Federal Project Management Unit and the State Project Management Unit joined the inspection, marking a significant step toward securing EIB environmental funds for Niger State’s climate adaptation and sustainable development efforts.
