Gombe moves to mitigate impact of land degradation
Gombe State is set to commence a $32million World Bank assisted project to reverse the effects of land degradation as well as address erosion-related challenges in the state.
The new project is known as the Agro-Climate Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project.
Dr. Sani Jauro, the Gombe State Project Coordinator for ACReSAL stated this on Friday at the palace of Emir of Gombe, Alhaji Abubakar Shehu-Abubakar III when he visited the royal father to seek his support ahead of the project launch.
Jauro stated the state had secured approval for the implementation of the project in the state with the support of Gov Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State.
According to him, the 18-month work plan of the project was approved by the World Bank as the project is expected to gulp $32million.
The project coordinator stated that the state government had redeemed its pledge on counterpart funding as requested by the World Bank towards the commencement of the project in the state.
He said the project would address over 31 kilometers of gully erosion challenges in Federal College of Education (Technical) to Arawa, Angwan Uku, Railway and Doma communities.
He stated that in view of the fact that land degradation and erosion negatively affect food production, livelihoods and the quality of soils, the administration of Gov Yahaya had prioritised any project aimed at addressing such environment-related challenges.
Jauro said aside addressing the erosion challenges, there was the agriculture component of the project which seeks to engage key stakeholders towards harnessing the irrigation potentials of the state to boost food security.
He said jobs would be created for youths through this component as several hundreds of hectares would be cultivated.
He said his visit to the royal father was to seek his blessings and support ahead of the project launch by Gov Yahaya.
According to him, it is part of the project requirements that traditional and other community leaders and the grassroots were engaged and sensitised about the project and to get their support prior to its launch.
Jauro commended Gov Yahaya for showing commitment o addressing erosion and other land degradation challenges in the state through partnerships that required counterparts funding.
“Under Gov Yahaya-led administration, the partnership of the state government and World Bank assisted project of Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP), had addressed a N2.9billion erosion project in Gombe State University.
“That particular intervention saved a lot of the state’s varsity infrastructures which were threatened by erosion; this is commendable and we appreciate the effort of Gov Yahaya.”
On his part, Shehu-Abubakar said his doors remained opened to any initiative that would help address any challenges that will help improve the lives and livelihoods of his people.
He said with the impact of climate change around the world, it was important for such project to be supported, “so I support the project 100 per cent.
“My doors are always open and I will also send out the message to ensure the success of the project for the benefit of our people.”
