A committee formed by the lower legislative chamber has absolved the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) of mismanaging N81 billion earmarked for a tree planting project. This inquiry was initiated in response to a motion adopted in July, with Ismaila Dabo, a lawmaker from Bauchi, leading the ad hoc panel.
During the investigation, NAGGW’s director-general, Yusuf Maina Bukar, stated that only N53.4 million was received by the agency, contrary to the alleged N81 billion spent on tree planting. According to the agency’s report, NAGGW received a total of ₦53,425,423,874.34 from its inception in 2015 to July 2023. The report also noted a reduction in ecological funding from 15% to 5%, effective from January 2020.
The committee’s recommendations include urging the federal government to promptly release N20 billion to compensate for the ecological funding reduction and advising NAGGW to include Adamawa, Bauchi, and Gombe States in the fourth phase of afforestation projects.
Additionally, the report emphasizes the urgent need for staff recruitment, closer collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, and increased public awareness regarding forest preservation.
