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World Bank earmarks $30 million to fight desertification in Borno
World Bank earmarks $30 million to fight desertification in Borno
By: Bodunrin Kayode
30 million dollars has been earmarked for the Borno State Agro Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid landscapes (ACRESAL) project aimed at battling desertification due to climate change by the world bank.
The grant which is to be spread across six years for various projects to counter erosion and other forms of challenges in the savanna is to attract a counterpart funding of N500m from the Borno State government.
This was revealed by the coordinator of the project in the State Ayuba Peter while addressing newsmen in his office in maiduguri over the weekend.
Ayuba said that the project will be of immense benefit to Borno residents because they reside within the sahel savanna region which is the worse hit from gradual desert encroachment, one of the haul marks of climate change.
The coordinator told newsmen in his office in maiduguri that the world bank “support implementation team” was in maiduguri to fast track the execution process of some already marked sites like Ngamdu which has been on the drawing board since the era of the Nigerian Erosion and Watershed management projects (NEWMAP).
“We benefitted about two years of the NEWMAP project and they had to fold up which is why ACRESAL inherited the projects and had to bring them to the front burner for speedy execut
” The project actually started in July 2022, to address some of the challenges we faced in the north of Nigeria when it comes to climate changes. And that is why there is need for agro climatic resilience which is why the World Bank will be helping us to get to our targets hopefully. “
Speaking on stakeholders of the project at federal and state levels, the coordinator went on:” The project involves the ministry of Environment of each of the 19 northern states and the federal capital territory (FCT) and our Commissioner of Environment Eng. Emat Kois is the chair of the state steering committee. The Commissioners of Agriculture and water resources are co-chairs of the project. “
Responding to the current uneven spread of the project due to security reasons, the Coordinator said that for now projects being executed can be found in Bayo especially in Briyel, Uba and Ngamdu in Kaga council areas respectively”.
He posited that security concerns in certain areas marked out, has been a major challenge which is why other desirable areas have not been considered for implemention for now.
“projects inherited from NEWMAP are flow and erosion control in Ngamdu, which was not implemented because the timing was not favorable to the completion before the period expired. Coupled with the fact that pending projects were added to assist the benefitting community further.
Ayuba confirmed that Borno Governor Babagana Zulum has released the first batch of counterpart funding totalling N100m which qualifies the state to move into the second stage of the loan scheme.
“We believe his excellency is highly committed to the project as such the release of the next counterpart funding of N400m will not be an. Issue.” he concluded.
Meanwhile, Borno Governor Professor Babagana Zulum has visited the Ngamdu erosion site which he says is critical to his people.
He said that over 500 residents in Ngamdu in Kaga council area used to be displaced during the peak of the rainy season adding that whatever dykes that are to be built should be constructed to save the people from these annual torrents which threaten the lives of the residents.
World Bank earmarks $30 million to fight desertification in Borno
Armed bandits blow up bridges linking Wawa and Luma in Borgu, security operations affected
By: Zagazola Makama
Armed bandits and insurgents have destroyed sections of two bridges connecting Wawa District and Luma District in Borgu LGA, Niger State, security sources confirmed.
The incident occurred at about 0200hrs on Wednesday when the attackers used improvised explosive devices (IEDs) to blow off parts of the bridges, which are located inside the Kainji Lake National Park forest.
The bridges are the only access route linking the two communities and Agwara LGA, raising concerns about disruptions to security operations along the corridor.
Authorities said combined security agencies are making urgent efforts to reach the second bridge, while monitoring continues by the New-Bussa Division to prevent further attacks and secure the route.
Armed bandits blow up bridges linking Wawa and Luma in Borgu, security operations affected
Troops arrest suspected ISWAP informant in Gombi, Adamawa
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of the Joint Task Force (JTF) Operation HADIN KAI, in conjunction with Civilian Hunters and the Vigilante Group of Nigeria, have arrested a suspected informant of the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) and Boko Haram Terrorists (BHT) in Gombi.
The suspect, identified as Abdullahi Umar, 25, a native of Gwoza, was apprehended on March 23 following credible intelligence on the presence of ISWAP elements within the 232 Battalion Tactical Area of Responsibility.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Umar was tasked with conducting reconnaissance along routes leading to the 232 Battalion general area and military structures, with the aim of identifying suitable entry points for future attacks.
The suspect also confessed to involvement in the recent attack on troops in Ngoshe.
Umar is currently in the custody of troops for further investigation and necessary action
Troops arrest suspected ISWAP informant in Gombi, Adamawa
Over 930, 000 persons benefit from ACReSAL Projects in Gombe
Mr Mohammed Fawu, the Gombe State Commissioner of Water, Environment and Forest Resources, has stated that no fewer than 930,162 persons across the state have benefitted from the implementation of the World-Bank-funded Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project in the state within the past three years
Fawu stated this in Gombe on Monday while declaring open a four-day training of enumerators for ACReSAL Third Party Assessment.
Fawu stated that Gombe State has within the three years received disbursements amounting to $27.51 million for the implementation of the project which had impacted positively on the lives of residents.
He said that the projects so far implemented have contributed to combating land degradation, erosion, and climate change while improving on the lives of persons living around communities were projects were executed.
“Gombe State has advanced a wide range of landscape and community-level interventions, including: establishment of 313 hectares of woodlot plantation.
“Upgrading of Kanawa Forest into a biosphere resort and botanical garden, indigenous tree plantations and roadside shelterbelts spanning 110 kilometres.
“Canalization of Balanga Dam irrigation channels covering 6,329 hectares provision of 250 wash boreholes to support irrigation farming.
“ At the community level, we have distributed clean cook stoves to 3,000 households, provided rainwater harvesting facilities to 1,000 households and institutions, and supplied drought-tolerant seeds to 10,000 farmers.
“Solar-powered irrigation schemes, borehole drilling, and Community Revolving Fund activities are ongoing, supporting agro-processing, livestock, and farm enterprise development,” he said.
He added that ACReSAL has strengthened smart agricultural practices through the establishment a farm centre dedicated to training and research.
Fawu commended the partnership between the Gombe State government and World Bank, which he said has impacted several sectors while improving the livelihoods of residents of Gombe State.
On his part, Dr Sani Jauro, the Gombe State ACReSAL Project coordinator said that no fewer than 220 enumerators drawn from the 19 Northern States and the Federal Capital Territory were being trained.
Jauro said that the third-party assessment would ensure unbiased review of the projects so far implemented by ACReSAL from independent party.
He said the assessment was part of the procedure of ACReSAL project implementation meant to review the progress and challenges of the projects by enumerators who are not involved in the day-to-day running of ACReSAL projects.
Jauro urged the enumerators to carry out their jobs with fairness and be just in their report, adding that “the credibility of the exercise lies on your shoulder.”
On her part, the World Bank Task Team Leader, Dr. Joy Agene who was represented by Mr Joseph Abang, Operations Officer with World Bank said the assessment would unravel what has changed since the commencement of the implementation of the project.
Agene urged the enumerators to be steadfast and report accurately in line with the essence of the exercise.
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