The Global Environmental Facility (GEF) says it will generate environmental statistics to support Nigeria’s efforts at achieving a sustainable environment for the good of the citizenry.
Alhaji Auwal Ahmed, the Director, Planning, Research and Statistics/GEF Operational Focal Point, Federal Ministry of Environment, said this on Thursday at a two-day 11th GEF National Steering Committee Meeting in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that GEF is a global fund provider that addresses issues of environment such as biodiversity, land degradation, climate change, international waters and pollution.
Ahmed said that GEF would do more in the area of data collection and management to generate environmental statistics for the nation’s development.
According to him, relevant data on environment will assist the country to attain environmental sustainability.
“We shall do our best to involve any interest stakeholder and the private sector in the Nigerian development project to ensure sustainable environment, alleviate poverty, and create employment to our populace.
“We also strive to attract more funds into our economy by maximising GEF’s intervention in the country,’’ he said.
NAN reports that the 11th GEF National Steering Committee Meeting is aimed at evaluating progress made in the implementation of GEF projects.
The meeting will also facilitate GEF-able projects to be presented to the GEF secretariat in Washington D.C., U.S. for implementation in Nigeria.
The GEF was established on the eve of the 1992 Rio Earth Summit to help tackle the world’s most pressing environmental problems. (NAN)