Nigerian House Probes Great Green Wall Agency's Finances
• This Day • Lifestyle
The Nigerian House of Representatives has launched an investigation into the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) regarding its financial management and the effectiveness of its tree planting initiatives. Established by an act of parliament in 2015, the NAGGW aims to combat desertification and climate change through afforestation. However, a parliamentary committee found that 80% of the trees planted across eleven states have not survived, raising concerns about the agency's operational effectiveness. The committee scrutinized claims that NAGGW spent 81.2 billion naira to plant 21 million trees, revealing inconsistencies in financial records from various government bodies, including the Central Bank of Nigeria and the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation. The actual funds received were clarified to be 53.4 billion naira. The investigation highlights ongoing environmental challenges despite significant funding and questions the agency's accountability and transparency in managing ecological funds.
Topics: Environment, Corruption