TheCable

The federal government has inaugurated a 10-member committee to oversee the implementation of the  integrated development and adaptation to climate change in the Niger basin (PIDACC) project.

The PIDACC project, launched in 2019, aims to assist countries around the borders of the Niger river basin in building the resilience of their ecosystems, as well as human and natural resources.

Suleiman Adamu, minister of water resources, who set up the committee in Abuja, said the project will strengthen the resilience of the Niger River’s ecosystems and population through sustainable natural resource management.

He said the committee would be responsible for actualising the Nigerian component of the PIDACC project.

“The PIDACC project is to strengthen the resilience of the Niger River’s ecosystems and population through sustainable natural resource management,” he said

“It will also focus on improving the socio-economic status of women and young people, and their access to resources, a critical factor for eliminating poverty and infant malnutrition.” 

Didi Walson-Jack, the ministry’s permanent secretary, said since its launch in 2019, the project implementation had been slow due to technical and financial challenges.

She said the project, when completed, will stabilise the macro-economy, enhance social inclusion, drive industrialisation and improve health, education and productivity of Nigerians.

“We must therefore encourage our government, the Niger River Basin Authority, and co-financial partners by ensuring that adequate funding is made available for project implementation,” she said. 

Baba Musa, national coordinator, PIDACC project, said the programme would benefit “no fewer than four million smallholder farmers” in the nine countries surrounding the Niger River basin.

He said the project will be implemented in four river basin development agencies including: Anambra-Imo, Upper Niger, Upper Benue and Sokoto-Rima.

“The project will build the capacity of smallholder farmers, women and young people through training and the provision of farming, processing and farm produce conversion equipment,” he said. 

Members of the steering committee include: the managing directors of the four river basins; the ministry’s permanent secretary; the director, water resources planning and technical services; and representatives from the ministries of finance, environment and agriculture.