Donor agencies doubt Nigeria’s ability to deliver on environment projects
The representatives at an interaction with Daily Trust noted that the inability of Nigeria to implement various programme supported by international donor organisations was forcing them to have a rethink about releasing money to support any environmental programme in the country.Jim Hull, one of the representative said that the inability of Nigeria to utilise funds […]
The representatives at an interaction with Daily Trust noted that the inability of Nigeria to implement various programme supported by international donor organisations was forcing them to have a rethink about releasing money to support any environmental programme in the country.
Jim Hull, one of the representative said that the inability of Nigeria to utilise funds received based on agreed timeline was making it difficult for most donors to keep a clear balance sheets on projects supported in Nigeria.
“Funding programmes that will have positive impacts on the environment sector in Nigeria is becoming problematic not because the programmes are not needed but due to unnecessary bottleneck surrounding funds releases. Take for instance, you are funding a two-year programme in the country and you release money into government coffers then after one year running, the programme implementation team can’t access the funds even though the money have been released way back,” he said.
Daily Trust check reveals that the environment ministry remained one with the lowest budgetary allocations from the federation account hence over 80 per cent of the ministry’s programmes are funded through donor collaborations.
According to Hull, Nigeria was holding back the international working system without any justifications as every programme or project supported has an objective to be accomplished apart from the timeline which clearly spells out what needed to be undertaking at a particular time.
Nwosu Okorie, Founder, Network of Environmental Vanguards speaking on the situation told Daily Trust that the decision of the Federal Ministry of Environment to hold on to funds received to support programmes in the sector was embarrassing.
“We have never had it this bad. So many programmes are awaiting the release of funds by the ministry for take-off but there is no urgency on the part of the ministry to release the funds when the international partners have already made such funds available,” he added.
Daily Trust found that as a result of the situation, most donor organisations now prefer to come to Nigeria, organise their events and pay for logistics and all other expenses.
“We are heading to a situation where the donors will no longer have confidence on our ability as a country to manage funds given in support of programmes that government on its own have no funds for,” Okorie said.