By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
As Bauchi State gets set to commence the implementation of a World Bank Assisted Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project, the State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed has given a pat on the back to the State Coordinator of the Project, Dr. Kabir Ibrahim Gamawa whom he described as a dedicated and committed environmental expert of high pedigree.
Governor Bala Mohammed gave the commendation recently at a high level stakeholders engagement meeting organized by the State Project Management Unit (SPMU) of ACReSAL, held at Command Guests House Bauchi on Wednesday 22nd, 2023.
While commending the efforts of Dr. Kabir Gamawa for his tenacity, doggedness and zeal towards ensuring the State meets the criteria for being part of the ACReSAL project, Governor Bala Mohammed noted that the state has paid five hundred million naira as counterpart fund to attract the intervention in view of it’s impact on the lives of people.
The Governor also reiterated the commitment of his administration towards supporting programmes aimed at providing solution to communities being bedeviled by environmental related challenges.
He further said that it is heartwarming to know that Bauchi State has the likes of Dr. Kabir , who are passionate about bringing development and progress to the State.
The Governor then informed the high level stakeholders that the Project is a joint intervention between the State, Federal Government and World Bank and that it has four major components that include: Dry Land Management, Community Climate Resilience, Institutional Strengthening and Emergency Response.
Also speaking, the project coordinator Dr. Kabir Ibrahim Gamawa said that, under the Project, eight communities of Gwaram, Gwalolo, Gwallagan Mayaki, Duguri, Cheledi, and Anguwan Sulaiman Adamu were selected to benefit from major projects that would address critical aspect of environmental challenges around flood control project, bridges and drainages as well as construction of Water Retention dams and other related areas.
He explained that the 6 year ACReSAL project will also address environmental challenges and improve the livelihoods of the benefitting communities.
Dr. Kabir then expressed his gratitude to Governor Bala Mohammed for his enormous support to the implementation unit which made it possible for the state to be in the forefront of all the implementing states in Nigeria.
In a short presentation during engagement meeting,the Acting National Project Coordinator Engineer Ayuba Anda, who was represented by the project , monitoring and evaluation specialist, Engr. Mukhtar Yakubu Tanko congratulated the state for securing the grant and called for effective implementation of project.
Earlier in a welcome address, the state commissioner, Ministry of Housing and Environment, Hamisu Mu’zu Shira charged benefiting communities and relevant stakeholders to give all the needed cooperation towards achieving success in the implementation of the project.
High point of the top level stakeholders engagement meeting was the presentation of fellowship award to Governor Bala Mohammed by the Environmental and Disaster Risk Reduction Institute of Nigeria (EMDRRI) and appointment of Emir of Katagum, Alhaji Umar Faruk II , as patron of the State ACReSAL Project by Governor.