World Bank Commends ACReSAL Project for Massive Restoration of Land in Northern Nigeria

By: Michael Mike

The World Bank has commended the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project for its massive achievement in restoration of land in parts of Northern Nigeria.

ACReSAL, is a World Bank approved project aimed at increasing the implementation of sustainable landscape management practices in targeted watersheds in northern Nigeria and strengthen the country’s long-term enabling environment for integrated climate-resilient landscape management.

Speaking at ACReSAL Stakeholders Engagement/ Marketplace Showcase in Abuja on Tuesday, Senior Environmental Specialist, World Bank and Task Team Leader, Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL), Dr Joy Agene, said that marketplace for ACReSAL project have delivered huge investment through land restoration.

She noted that marketplace for ACReSAL is where we have a huge investment that is saving millions of land in targeted watersheds.

She explained that: “Marketplace is also a technology where water is conserved in dryland to ensure that we are able to produce, sell and make income.

On her part, the Practice Manager Environment, World Bank, Mrs Ellysar Baroudy expressed satisfaction with the project saying the project had really been an example within the whole World Bank portfolio.

She said however the World bank was faced with challenges of climate change, degradation, as well as finance.

Baroudy urged ACReSAL to be resolute in spite of the challenges being faced at the point of discharging their work.

The National Project Coordinator ACReSAL, Mr Abdulhamid Umar said that the project is a people-oriented project that would sustain livelihoods.

He added that the project has touched so many lives especially the down trodden in communities.

Director Water Support Services, Ministry of Water Resources and Sanitation, Dr Segun Babarinde said that the marketplace has showcased a collaborative effort within the stakeholders.

He said: “I want to thank all the states for being very, resolute in ensuring the achievement of this glorious idea by the government.”

Director International Economic Relations Department, Ministry of Finance, Mr George Stanley said that there is no doubt that the project has delivered on various aspects of environment, agriculture, water resources and even beyond.

He said: “In special terms, the project has improved the resilience and livelihood of the communities through wide range interventions carefully implemented by institutional partners.”

Etsu Kwali, a prominent traditional ruler with the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Mr Luka Ayedo, said that the intervention of market place project is already yielding excellent results.

He noted that: “The project has come to terminate hunger in our community the intervention has impacted us for good I want to say the World Bank has invested rightly.”

World Bank Commends ACReSAL Project for Massive Restoration of Land in Northern Nigeria

Buni urges security operatives to redouble efforts on peace, law, and order in Yobe

By: Yahaya Wakili

Yobe State Governor Hon. Mai Mala Buni CON has called on the security agencies to redouble their effort to provide adequate security and proper maintenance of law and order in the state.

Buni made the call today in Damaturu at the commissioning of 47 four-wheel-drive vehicles and 50 motorcycles distributed to security agencies in the state.

He said government efforts towards supporting security agencies to enable them to carry out their duties effectively and efficiently are a means of ensuring the maintenance of law and order throughout the state.

“To achieve this noble objective, it has become necessary to provide adequate support to security agencies in terms of logistics to ease their movements on routine patrols or when responding to distress calls from citizens of the state.” Governor Buni said.

The governor appreciates the federal government and security agencies in ensuring that peace and security reign across Yobe State.

He maintained that our efforts in security agencies since assumption of office have been wide-ranging and inclusive through close collaborations to enhance synergy for a better working relationship to enhance successful operations to reduce crime in the state.

According to Governor Buni, one vehicle will be given to each of the 17 local government area chairmen to enhance their day-to-day operations, while the 50 motorcycles will be allocated with the following ratio: 23 to the Department of State Services, 10 to the Nigerian Army, 10 to the airport security team, and 7 to the vigilante group.

Buni directed the chairmen of the 17 local government areas to maintain the vehicles attached to Divisional Police Officers in their respective local government areas as well as provide them with fuel to facilitate their day-to-day operations.

Speaking earlier, the Special Adviser on Security Affairs to the Governor, Brig. Gen. Dahiru Abdusalam (rtd), commended Governor Mai Mala Buni for supporting security agencies in the state.

Gen. Abdusalam assured judicious use of the vehicles for the purpose intended to improve security across the state.

Buni urges security operatives to redouble efforts on peace, law, and order in Yobe

As PAP Deploys 161 For Foreign Post-graduate Scholarship, Otuaro Urges Niger Deltans to Support Tinubu’s 2027 Reelection Bid

By: Michael Mike

The Administrator of the Presidential Amnesty Programme, Dr Dennis Otuaro, has expressed deep appreciation to President Bola Tinubu for strongly supporting the agency’s recent deployment of its foreign post-graduate scholarship beneficiaries.

Otuaro said the PAP had, as at the last count, sent 161 post-graduate scholarship beneficiaries to universities in the U.K. for the 2025/2026 academic year.

He also expressed gratitude to the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for his invaluable input and guidance in the exercise.

He attributed the huge number of beneficiaries so far deployed abroad for studies in various industry-relevant programmes to the backing and generosity of the President.

He urged stakeholders of the Niger Delta to stand with President Tinubu and support his reelection bid in 2027.

Otuaro stressed that the president has demonstrated good intentions for the region and deserved reciprocal action in 2027.

Recall that the PAP office had penultimate week organised pre-departure briefing for two batches of the beneficiaries on the foreign post-graduate sponsorship in Abuja.

Otuaro noted that the PAP’s “decision for the massive deployment aligns with Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and his genuine love for the people of the Niger Delta.”

He said the President was aware of the region’s challenge of human capacity development gap and the need to close it, empower the people, and galvanize socio-economic growth and development in the area.

According to him, the region’s human capital development gap can be increasingly closed if the huge deployment of scholarship beneficiaries within and outside the country is sustained.

Otuaro further said, “I am eternally grateful to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, for graciously supporting the Presidential Amnesty Programme as we deploy foreign scholarship beneficiaries for the academic session.

“But for the President’s magnanimity, it would not have been possible for us to send 161 beneficiaries to universities in the U.K. The number is huge and it aligns with His Excellency’s Renewed Hope Agenda and reflects his undying love for the Niger Delta.

“I am equally immensely thankful to the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, for his usual incredible guidance and supervision, which helps us a great deal.

“I am highly encouraged by the President’s backing of our formal education and vocational training initiatives, and his strong desire for the socio-economic growth and development of our region.

“I believe that if we sustain the high number of scholarship deployments within and outside the country, the issue of human capacity development gap in our region will be decisively tackled.”

The PAP’s helmsman restated his call on all scholarship beneficiaries to make good use of the opportunity, complete their programmes successfully, and return home to add value to the development of the region and indeed the country.

As PAP Deploys 161 For Foreign Post-graduate Scholarship, Otuaro Urges Niger Deltans to Support Tinubu’s 2027 Reelection Bid