The investigation is from 2015 till date.
Rep. Isma’ila Dabo, the Chairman of the committee in Abuja, decried the persistent of environmental challenges in spite of funds put into the programme.
He said the funds put by the Federal Government and international partners necessitated the investigation.
He said the committee would embark on, on-the-spot assessment tour to all the projects executed under this scheme to ascertain the claims.
He said the committee was not out to scandalise any individual or organisation but only to ensure that public funds were utilised for the purpose they were given.
“We will not shy away from pointing fingers where necessary, not out of personal animosity but simply in the national interest of our nation.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 11 states where the trees are planted are: Kebbi, Sokoto, Zamfara, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Yobe and Borno.
He said it enabled the agency to implement the Nigerian component of the programme as an initiative of the African Union being implemented in 11 African countries.
This according to him, is to address the problem of land degradation, desertification, drought, climate change and livelihood of affected communities.
He saud the agency planted 1 million trees in Borno, Yobe and other states, adding that N2.4 billion was released in the first phase and N7.3 billion released in the second phase.
He added that the fund accruing into the agency’s account included 15 per cent of the ecological fund for the Great Green Wall, contribution of fund from the natural resources development fund and gifts.
Others include loans and grants in aid from national bilateral, multilateral organisations and donors, international and development agencies as well as individuals.
He said that the agency often got funds from donor agencies; however, he did not provide relevant documents on the amount received so far.
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