Nigeria has launched a €175 million climate adaptation initiative, backed by the European Investment Bank (EIB), to combat the country’s worsening erosion, flooding, and watershed degradation.
The programme, known as the Nigeria Climate Adaptation, Erosion and Watershed Project (NEWMAP-EIB), is designed to protect vulnerable communities, restore farmlands, and build climate resilience across 23 States.
Speaking at the official launch in Abuja on Tuesday, Balarabe Lawal, Minister of Environment and Chairman of the NEWMAP-EIB Steering Committee, announced that the Federal Government had met all conditions for the project’s take-off, making it now “disbursement-effective.”
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He described the initiative as a lifeline in the fight against climate disasters that had destroyed lives, livelihoods and infrastructure across the country.
“Today’s launch signifies a clear testimony to the power of collaboration and shared vision.
“The support of the European Investment Bank in climate finance has provided Nigeria with a vital lifeline for erosion control, flood management, and watershed restoration,” Lawal declared.
The project builds on the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP-IDA), first introduced in 2010 with World Bank financing.
That programme, which closed in 2022, rehabilitated dozens of gully erosion sites, supported food security, and improved institutional response to land degradation in 23 States.
With the EIB’s support, Nigeria has now scaled up the initiative under a five-year programme targeting 23 States, including Abia, Anambra, Cross River, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Edo, Plateau, Sokoto, and Borno.
The intervention will focus on two components such as erosion and watershed management infrastructure investment, and project management.
