Abuja, Nigeria — Tuesday, 28th April 2026
The United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) and the Federal Project Management Unit (FPMU) convened a high-level stakeholder meeting with the Honourable Minister of Environment and the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary to advance implementation of the European Investment Bank (EIB)-assisted Nigeria Climate Adaptation – Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP-EIB).
The meeting brought together Directors from key departments within the Federal Ministry of Environment and centered on strategies to accelerate project delivery across the 23 participating states. The Honourable Minister underscored the urgency of tackling Nigeria’s escalating erosion and flood challenges, calling for structured reporting mechanisms, clearly defined timelines, and a robust monitoring and evaluation framework to safeguard the project’s long-term impact.
The UNOPS delegation, led by Senior Project Manager Donato Serena, confirmed that the organization’s project team is now fully operational. UNOPS will assume responsibility for technical advisory services, compliance with EIB operational guidelines, and the design and delivery of capacity-building programmes for federal and state-level teams. A dedicated training mission is scheduled for mid-May in Delta State, aimed at strengthening project management capabilities across participating institutions.
Discussions also addressed critical project milestones, including the submission of environmental and social safeguard documentation for formal approval and the ongoing review of state-level procurement plans. Stakeholders further examined institutional capacity gaps and staff retention strategies, with UNOPS noting that strong project performance and demonstrated results could position Nigeria favourably for additional funding from the EIB.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment among all parties to enhance transparency, strengthen coordination, and accelerate delivery — with the collective goal of achieving measurable, sustainable erosion and flood management outcomes across the country.
