The African Development Bank Group (AfDB) has approved a $50 million loan for the Yobe State Environmental and Climate Change Action Project (ECCAP) to help the state become more resilient to climate change and improve food security in northeast Nigeria.
The funding initiative aims to improve the lives of over 3.5 million people in the region by addressing climate vulnerabilities, promoting food security, and improving livelihoods.
The ECCAP project has a total funding of approximately $101.34 million. AfDB contributes $50 million, BADEA provides $30 million, the Yobe State Government commits $4.52 million, and project beneficiaries contribute $16.82 million directly.
The statement read:
“The Board of Directors of the African Development Bank Group approved a $50 million loan for the Yobe State Environmental and Climate Change Action Project (ECCAP) to enhance climate change resilience, boost food security, and improve livelihoods for over 3.5 million people in northeast Nigeria.
“The project cost is estimated at $101.34 million with the African Development Bank providing a $50 million loan while the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) is expected to provide $30 million in co-financing. Yobe State Government will contribute $4.52 million in counterpart funding, and project beneficiaries are contributing $16.82 million.”
72% of Yobe residents living in poverty
Yobe State faces serious environmental and economic challenges due to ongoing communal and insurgency conflicts. With 72% of its population living below the poverty line, the state is highly vulnerable to climate change. The ECCAP project is crucial in addressing these issues by focusing on combating droughts and desertification, empowering women, and supporting the development of small businesses. This includes providing small livestock and efficient cooking stoves.
The statement added
- In decades past, protracted inter-communal conflicts, especially between herder and farming communities, and armed insurgencies have aggravated the already fragile environmental situation in Yobe, plunging it into rapid economic decline. With 72% of its population living below the poverty line, Yobe is ranked as the state in Nigeria that is most vulnerable to climate change.
- “ECCAP will support the federal and state governments in their efforts to respond to the challenges of droughts and desertification, empower women by supplying small ruminants and providing cooking stoves to develop micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, among other interventions. The project will also support the preparation of Yobe State’s Gender Policy.
“The implementation of a Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES) scheme will incentivize the population to maintain 2 million regenerated trees on farms and support payments for labour and related services to plant and maintain 20 million drought-resistant trees. This project complements the Bank’s and other Development Partners’ ongoing and planned projects to address climate change and promote livelihood improvements in Yobe State.”
AFDB has 50 operations valued at $4.6 billion in Nigeria
AfDB remains committed to Nigeria with a diverse portfolio of 50 operations valued at $4.6 billion. These efforts align with the Bank’s strategic goals and aim to promote sustainable development across Africa.
 has approved a $50 million loan for the Yobe State Environmental and Climate Change Action Project (ECCAP) to help the state become more resilient to climate change and improve food security in northeast Nigeria.){kind=link}