Thirty-three out of Nigeria’s 36 states are contesting for slots earmarked for only three states under the Reducing emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) Programme of the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility (FCPF).

Cross River, Ondo and Nasarawa states, being beneficiaries of a FCPF $3.8 million facility, are already implementing a REDD+ Readiness Programme, and it has been the desire of the Nigeria REDD+ Programme to expand the project to more states.

The Programme’s dream became a reality following the approval recently of an additional $4.9 million grant by the FCPF, an initiative of the World Bank, to extend the REDD+ Programme to more states.

Consequently, Environment Minister of State, Ibrahim Usman Jibril, wrote to the 33 states, requesting them to formally express their interest to participate in the programme. Deadline for expression of interest for participation by states to the Ministry of Environment and the Nigeria REDD+ Programme has been fixed for this week.

States that appear to have the best prospects will be selected from the lot, who will them be subjected to a scoping process to enable the project promoters select the target three.

National Coordinator, Nigeria REDD+ Programme, Dr Moses Ama, disclosed on Thursday, April 26, 2018 in Lafia, Nasarawa State, during the High Level Stakeholders Sensitisation Workshop on National Forest Inventory: “In a month or two, we will be signing the agreement for the receipt of the $4.9 million from the FCPF.

“However, as soon as the identity of the states that expressed interest in the project is established we will, around the first week of June, embark on a scoping mission to the states to enable us decide on the three states for the project.”

According to Ama, some of the criteria to be used to select the three REDD+ participatory states include:

• Expressing of interest in the project
• Having the political will
• Operating community forest management approaches
• Operating functional forest reserves/estates
• Having in place stakeholder engagement strategies

He pointed out that, apart from expanding the project to three more states, the $4.9 million World Bank grant would likewise be utilised to:

• Develop a National Forestry Monitoring System
• Put in place a Safeguard Information Systems (SIS)
• Support policy reforms that will address REDD+
• Update the nation’s Carbon Inventory
• Build capacity

The entire project is billed to be executed by 2020, when the FCPF is expected to officially come to a close.

The Lafia sensitisation workshop was supported by the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the FCPF.

The FCPF, which became operational in June 2008, is a global partnership focused on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, forest carbon stock conservation, sustainable management of forests, and enhancement of forest carbon stocks (REDD+).

In line with the campus-green initiative of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Chinedum Nwajiuba, to make the Alex Ekwueme Federal University Ndufu-Alike (AE-FUNAI) in Ebonyi State the most beautiful and eco-friendly institution in Nigeria, the wife of the first President of Nigeria, Professor Uche Azikiwe, on Wednesday, April 25, 2018 joined other well-meaning Nigerians to plant a tree in the university, in support of the initiative.

Azikiwe, a Professor of Sociology of Education, was at the university recently for the first Annual International Conference, hosted by the Faculty of Education of the university, where she also spared some time to support the campus-green initiative of the Vice-Chancellor.

Meanwhile, the Vice-Chancellor of Imo State University, Owerri, Professor Victoria Obasi, was also part of the tree planting campaign.  The professor of Curriculum Studies chaired the First Annual International Conference held recently at the university. She prayed that the tree, just like the university, would grow to provide shades, fruits and serene environment for generations to come.

With a policy termed “Campus-Green Initiative”, the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Nwajiuba, had on assumption of office about two years ago embarked on aggressive tree planting campaign in the university to ensure eco-friendliness, aesthetics and serene environment within the campus. This led to the inauguration of the University Pioneer Garden and a yearly tree planting campaign where staff and students donate and plant trees around the university campus.

The inhabitants of Boki Local Government Area in Cross River State are presently living under serious tension as angry youth battle for the control of Boki Oil Palm Estate, Borum.

This crisis, which began last year, has claimed the lives of many innocent people, destroyed properties and left many others traumatised.

Reacting to the ugly incident, the chairman of Ochibe Boki, Major General Moses Obi (rtd), has appealed to all the parties involved to exercise restraint and explore peaceful as well as acceptable mechanisms in resolving their grievances.

The former army officer, in a press statement titled: “Message of Peace and Love”, expressed displeasure over the anxiety that the unwarranted situation has created particularly the compromise of the peaceful co-existence and security of the people.

“I feel pained,” he said, adding: “I remain committed to contributing, in whatever way I can, in helping our government and our institutions, to help us.”

He submitted that, together with resolve and prayers, the good people of Boki would overcome and the evil times will get behind them for good.

Also, other concerned Boki sons and daughters both within and outside Nigeria have joined their voices to express sadness and condemn the upheaval that has engulfed the people.

Social agent activist and human rights lawyer, Dr. Joseph Odok, accused the Cross River State Government of conspiracy and keeping silent over the ongoing brouhaha.

He recalled that Ochibe Boki has been at the vanguard of proffering solution since the crisis erupted over a year ago, but noted that the government has done nothing to complement existing peace efforts.

“Some appointees of Ayade have groomed boys that have snowballed into two groups to protect their interest in the estate. Proceeds of the Palm Estate have been used to buy guns and the boys have become so powerful that they now respect no chief or elder,” Dr. Odok posted on his Facebook page.

The university don decried the seeming helplessness of Ochibe Boki under these circumstances to curb the matter.

According to him, chairman of the umbrella body in an open outcry had earlier called on Governor Benedict Ayade to rapidly intervene by deploying security personnel to help salvage lives and property.

“I join my voice with that of Ochibe Boki to call the security apparatus in the state to step in to save lives,” he said.

The rights campaigner hinted that too many lives have been lost and properties destroyed because of the government’s failure to respond timely and address issues of security breaches.

“I make this call before the break down of law and order between Osokom people and Oku community,” he concluded.

By Etta Michael Bisong, Abuja