ACReSAL launch: Partnership with World Bank beneficial to people of Gombe State – Gov Yahaya
By Ben Ngwakwe, Gombe
Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu, Inuwa Yahaya, has expressed confidence that partnership with the World Bank through the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes project will help to provide a healthy and eco-friendly environment for human habitation through proper catchment management, gully stabilisation, bioremediation, dryland management and afforestation activities.
In this respect, the Governor said, the government has acquired 11 motorcycles, 6 tricycles, 1 boat and a drone in order to boost the capacity of the forestry department for effective wildlife protection and conservation.
Speaking in Gombe on Monday at the launching of Gombe State ACReSAL, the Governor hoped that ACReSAL would build on the successes of the NEWMAP project, especially with respect to addressing the menace of gully erosion in the communities.
He said there are plans to begin the rehabilitation of the FCE(T) and Unguwa-Uku gullies under the ACReSAL project, as all relevant documentations have been completed and expressed appreciation to World Bank Team and the Federal Project Management Specialists for their technical guidance and support in the preparation of the projects.
Yahaya added that the official launching of the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes project is an initiative that is aimed at tackling environmental challenges and combating land degradation in the communities that the two intervention projects (the FCE-T and Mallam Inna gully rehabilitation) would get the required clearance in order to commence at the earliest possible time.
According to him, “As a result of our unique geography, Gombe is facing growing number of climate-related challenges, with their devastating effects on agricultural systems and natural resources. These include incessant flooding, erratic rainfall patterns, desert encroachment, and diminishing arable lands, all of which have taken a toll on the livelihoods of our farmers and communities. This state of affairs led to the launching of the Gombe Goes Green (3G) project when we first came to office in 2019. The program engaged 27,000 youth in the planting of 4 million trees so as to combat desertification and deforestation.”
In addition to the 3G project, the Governor said that, they also partnered with NEWMAP to address some of the monstrous gullies like the one running through Gombe State University and Mallam Inna.
“As successor to NEWMAP, the ACReSAL project is another opportunity to fast-track climate action and enhance environmental sustainability. As a mark of our commitment towards strengthening climate resilience, the state government paid 503 million naira in counterpart funding for the ACReSAL project, in addition to meeting all other requirements for participation in the project.
“Our commitment to climate action does not just stop with ACReSAL. Earlier this week, I inaugurated the committee on the restoration of cattle routes, grazing, forest and game reserves, thus highlighting our commitment towards natural resource conservation and environmental sustainability. Through interventions like this, we are determined to entrench environmental accountability and foster a spirit of cooperation, ownership and shared responsibility in protecting our environment.
“Gombe State is an agrarian State, with about 80 per cent of the people engaging in agriculture and the farmers depending mostly in rain-fed agriculture, stressing further, he said , they have vast potentials in irrigation potentials with the existence of major dams in Dadin-Kowa, Balanga and Cham.
“Our major policy focus is to harness both our land and water potentials in order to strengthen our comparative advantage in agriculture. Through projects like ACReSAL, we aim to empower our farmers with knowledge and modern techniques so as to enable them to implement sustainable land management and water conservation practices,” he added.
Yahaya also extended his deepest gratitude to all the partners, sponsors, and stakeholders, especially the World Bank team led by Dr Joy Iganya Agene, and the Federal Project Management Unit Specialists under the coordination of Mr Abdulhamid Umar, for their support in the implementation of the project in Gombe state.
He assured them of his administration’s commitment to working hand in hand with all relevant stakeholders to protect our environment and they shall collectively achieve the resilience and abundance that Gombe truly deserves.
