By Sani Yarima
Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State has pledged to create a favorable environment for the Agro-Climate Resilience in semi-Arid Landscape (ACReSAL) program to accomplish its development goals in the state.
The governor made the commitment during ACReSAL’s Hybrid Implementation Support Mission and Stakeholders Consultative Forum held in Jalingo.
Represented by his Deputy, Aminu Alkali, Governor Kefas emphasized the significance of the project in addressing environmental challenges caused by climate change.
He highlighted that the initiative is well-timed and aligns with his administration’s focus on addressing environmental degradation.
While acknowledging the efforts of the Federal Government, World Bank, and other stakeholders in implementing the project in the state, Kefas expressed optimism that through collaborative efforts and innovative approaches, they will be able to enhance community resilience and ensure sustainable agricultural practices.
During a welcome address, Aishat Barde, the State Commissioner of Environment and Climate Change, expressed that the day represents a significant advancement in their joint efforts to improve resilience, sustainability, and productivity in their semi-arid region.
She mentioned that as a forum, they were united by a shared commitment to address the urgent challenges of climate change and environmental degradation.
She said these challenges are particularly severe in semi-arid areas, where communities heavily rely on agriculture for their livelihoods.
Barde, who is also the Chairperson of the ACReSAL Steering Committee, emphasized that the variable climate conditions in these regions call for innovative approaches and collaborative efforts to build resilience and ensure sustainable development.
The Commissioner highlighted that by promoting agro-climatic resilience, they aim to improve food security, enhance water management, and protect biodiversity, thus improving the lives of the communities dependent on these landscapes.
“This forum serves as a platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange, and strategic planning.” She added.
Aishat Barde also thanked Governor Agbu Kefas for his support and commitment to her Ministry, and expressed gratitude to the management of ACReSAL and the World Bank, among other stakeholders, for their support.
In addition, Abdulhamid Umar, the ACReSAL National Project Coordinator, praised the Taraba state government for being one of the best-implementing states in the project and officially handed it over to Governor Agbu Kefas.
According to him, the state made his job easy and urged them not to deviate from the objectives of the project but to maintain the tempo.
Dr. Joy Iganya, the Task Team Leader for ACReSAL at the World Bank, appreciated the Taraba state government under Governor Kefas’s administration for its commitment to the full implementation of the project.
She emphasized that the World Bank’s support aims to complement the existing local solutions, stating that the project requires the involvement of all stakeholders to achieve its goals.
Joshua Dumuti, the Taraba state ACReSAL Project Coordinator, mentioned that the state’s participation in the project is adding value to land restoration.
He noted that the project has currently restored fifty hectares of degraded land and aims to reclaim more through erosion and flood control.
He urged Governor Agbu Kefas to continue making counterpart fund payments to enhance the project’s implementation strategies for the State.
The Emir of Muri, HRH Abbas Njidda Tafida, advised Governor Agbu Kefas to closely monitor the project for accountability.
He also highlighted the detrimental environmental impact of plastic use and called on the government to ban it.
In an interview, some stakeholders Usman Musa and Peace Emmanuel described the project as a welcome development and commended Governor Kefas for payment of counterpart, as well as urged him to ensure that the aim is achieved.
ACReSAL is a World Bank-sponsored project that aims to increase the implementation of sustainable landscape management practices in northern Nigeria and strengthen the country’s long-term enabling environment for integrated climate-resilient landscape management.
The project is a multi-sectoral and multi-institutional scheme, covering Environment, Agriculture, and Water.
It was designed by the Federal Government to combat desertification and restore degraded lands, and special ecosystems for agriculture and biodiversity conservation.
