House of Representatives uncovers documents on alleged misappropriation of N81.2 billion by NAGGW

In a recent investigative hearing, the House of Representatives uncovered documents indicating that the National Agency for the Great Green Wall (NAGGW) allegedly spent a staggering sum of N81.2 billion on planting 21 million trees across 11 frontline states in Nigeria.

The states benefiting from this tree planting initiative are Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Yobe, and Borno. However, the lawmakers expressed their dissatisfaction with the conflicting financial reports submitted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the office of the Accountant General of the Federation (OAGF), and the agency.

During the hearing, the House of Representatives scrutinized the documents submitted by NAGGW and questioned various expenditures carried out during the period under review. They raised concerns about the following:

• The sum of N697.372 million and an additional N500 million spent on the renovation of office accommodation.
• An expenditure of N480.657 million on capital projects, including claiming ownership of projects carried out by lawmakers under constituency projects.
• The exclusion of three states from the tree planting exercise.

The lawmakers also queried the rationale behind holding multi-billion naira funds in the agency's account for several years, without returning unused funds to the government's coffers in accordance with financial regulations.

Another worrisome aspect highlighted during the investigation was the agency's failure to conduct any financial audits since its inception. Additionally, the lawmakers expressed concerns about the excessive amount spent on capacity building and other activities that do not align with the agency's mandate as stated in the Great Green Wall Act.

One of the key issues raised involved the survival rate of the trees planted by the agency. The House committee discovered that approximately 80 percent of the trees did not survive, calling into question the effectiveness of the agency's initiatives.

It is essential to note that in 2015, the agency faced allegations of money laundering when N1 billion was reportedly mishandled by some officials of the Federal Ministry of Environment. However, this amount was later recovered by the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC).

The documents submitted by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) revealed that a total sum of N9,465,960,382.57 was deposited in the agency's account from 2015 to date. Out of the seven accounts opened by NAGGW, only one was a mandated account.

The Accountant General of the Federation (AGF), Mrs. Oluwatoyin Madein, provided documents indicating that a total sum of N19.378 billion was released from the Derivation & Ecology Accounts to the agency between February 2019 and the present date. Additionally, the agency received N11.023 billion as capital expenditure through the OAGF.

The NAGGW Managing Director, Dr. Yusuf Bukar, stated that the agency's activities are governed by the Great Green Wall Act, which was signed into law by the President in 2015. He highlighted that the agency aims to address land degradation, desertification, drought, climate change, and the livelihood of affected communities. However, he acknowledged that the agency has deviated from its original mandate.

The investigation launched by the House of Representatives seeks to shed light on the utilization of ecological funds, budgetary allocations, contracts awarded, and compliance with project goals and objectives. This inquiry aims to ensure transparency, accountability, and adherence to financial regulations and the agency's mandate.

Source of content: OOO News 2023-08-31 News

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