Environment
Erosion, Flood Control: FG Approves N1.5bn For Varsity
The Federal Government has approved an ecological fund of N1.5 billion for erosion and flood control at the Federal University, Ndufu-Alike Ikwo (FUNAI), Ebonyi State.
The Tide learnt that the fund was attracted by the effort of the Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Chinedum Nwajiuba, and it covers the construction of intra-campus roads, drainages, culverts, pedestrian walkways among others.
Mr. Umar Abdulkarim, the leader of the National Economical Fund office delegation who disclosed this recently said that the fund was approved by the presidency.
Abdulkarim said the fund is aimed at controlling the impact of flood and erosion on the university and hailed the commitment of the vice chancellor of the institution
“We assure the university authority that the contractor and consultants would live up to expectation in terms of quality execution of projects and their completion at the stipulated period of eight months,” he said.
The vice chancellor, Professor Chinedum Nwajiuba said the projects would reduce the ecological challenges facing the university urged the contractor, Mecca Nig. Ltd. and Project consultant, SURD Engineering Services Ltd., to bring their experiences to bear in the execution of the projects.
“We would not tolerate shoddy jobs which could lead to colossal waste of scarce resources as the university will assist them in attaining the best quality and complete the projects on time.
“It is only the quality of work that would give the contractor and consultants lasting relationships with the university,” he said.
He further highlighted the priority areas within the university environment and urged them to commence operations from there due to their direct and immediate impact on the staff, students and visitors.
The Director, Centre for Development Assistance Management, Partnership and Training in the university, Mr Chris Uwadoka, expressed happiness for the intervention of the Federal Government in checking ecological challenges in the university.
“I am very excited that the Federal Government has approved such intervention in the university at this auspicious time.
“This will make the university community more habitable for both staff and students and will assist the institution in attaining the desired enviable status of a world-class institution,” he said.
The contractor and consultant also expressed their readiness to leave positive footprints in the university through quality jobs and timely completion of the projects.
President, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Mrs Margaret Oguntala, has inaugurated the construction of 18 units residential terrace in highbrow Alausa area of Lagos toward bridging the nation’s shelter gap.
Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation has launched the 1GOV Enterprise Content Management System (ECMS) to enhance digital governance and improve service delivery.
The launch, held on Thursday in Abuja, marks the ministry’s transition from paper-based operations to a smart, integrated and technology-driven work environment.
The Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Prof. Joseph Utsev, said the deployment aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
Utsev said the system would improve data management, streamline workflows and strengthen transparency and accountability across the ministry.
According to him, the ECMS will enhance productivity, preserve institutional memory and reduce operational costs in the ministry.
Launching the platform, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs Didi Walson-Jack, said the initiative is a major step in public sector reform.
She said the ministry’s mandate affects Nigerians through water supply, sanitation, irrigation, river basin development and climate resilience programmes.
Walson-Jack said the 1GOV ECMS enables secure digital records management, automated workflows, electronic approvals and real-time collaboration across MDAs.
She added that the deployment aligns with the Federal Civil Service Strategy and Implementation Plan 2021–2025 and the directive for full digitalisation by December 2025.
“Effective governance cannot afford delays caused by manual bottlenecks or avoidable inefficiencies,” she said.
She directed that all official correspondence in the ministry must henceforth be processed through approved digital registry channels.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Dr Emanso Umobong, said the system would eliminate workflow inefficiencies and improve service delivery.
She urged staff to fully adopt the platform and engage in continuous capacity building.
Research shows that local communities and citizens living at the grassroots, particularly women, are directly impacted by the environmental degradation, flooding and others that result from these manifestations.
In the light of this, non-governmental organisation, Ese Usamali Foundation For Rural Development (EUFORDe), has held a forum for women and other members of oil impacted communities, tagged: ‘Voices from the Grassroots,’ and aimed at building their resilience and mitigation efforts against climate change and environmental degradation
The forum, with the theme: ‘Building Resilience for Oil Spill Impacted Ahoada Communities,’ organised with support from Global Green Grants, was held in Ahoada Community, Ahoada East Local Government Area of Rivers State, on December 5, 2025.
Executive Director of Ese Usamali Foundation For Rural Development, Mercy Elemchukwu-James, said women are at the forefront of efforts to mitigate the impact of climate change and environmental degradation.
The event, therefore, was “designed for community women impacted by oil spills, flooding and other environmental degradation,” she said.
Community women were enlightened by resource persons on new opportunities for sustainable agricultural practices and water management techniques that cushion the impact of oil spills.
Lectures were also delivered on Self-care and Trauma-care, with focus on physical and mental health of the population, and increasing access to health-related resources and services; as well as on Food security and women’s critical role in decision making in oil spill and flood situations in communities
Elemchukwu-James pointed out that the event created a forum for stakeholders, civil society actors and others to dialogue on measures at advancing inclusive and sustainable livelihoods of community women.
She stressed the need for collaborative efforts towards achieving mitigation efforts, while underscoring EUFORDe’s commitment to “fostering partnerships as a critical driver for achieving a healthy community and sustainable development.”
Elemchukwu-James described participants’ design of ‘Community Resilience Plan,’ to manage and combat environmental degradation and crises, as part of achievements recorded at the event.
The forum also witnessed the launching of EUFORDs’ Center For Resilience and Rights.
“This center is established to build resilience as Trauma-Care for victims of environmental degradation, support for survivors of Gender Based Violence (GBV) and a platform where victims of environmental injustice and other GBV cases can seek redress,” Elemchukwu-James said.
Participants celebrated the milestones achieved and charted a path toward greater impact in the coming years. They also described the event as “an inspiring and transformative experience.”
Elemchukwu-James said the awareness creation workshop “reaffirms EUFORDe’s mission to create an equitable society in which the rights and capacities of women, youth, children and underprivileged are integrated in the socio-economic planning and development of communities, for the attainment of equity and peace.
