The Niger State Government has called on the Agro Climate Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) to accelerate efforts in stabilizing gully erosion sites in Mokwa Local Government Area, addressing a long-standing environmental challenge affecting local communities.
Governor Mohammed Bago made this appeal during a special dinner organized for the ACReSAL World Bank team in Minna. The Governor, represented by Sadiq Yusuf, Deputy Chief of Staff and Coordinator of World Bank projects in the state, emphasized that resolving the erosion crisis would bring significant relief to affected residents who have endured this environmental hazard for years.
"The stabilization of the gully erosion sites in Mokwa will help in easing the worries of the people who have for long faced this environmental hazard," Yusuf stated, while assuring the ACReSAL team of the state government's unwavering support to ensure the success of all World Bank-assisted projects in Niger State.
World Bank Commends Niger State's Enabling Environment
Dr. Joy Agene, Task Team Leader for ACReSAL, acknowledged the conducive environment created by the Niger State government, which she described as instrumental to the success of ACReSAL projects in the state. She also praised Governor Bago for his significant support for women in the agricultural sector.
The National Project Coordinator for ACReSAL, Dr. Abdulhameed Umar, revealed that the World Bank's mission in Niger State provided an opportunity to validate and endorse the strategic management plan for the project's success. Through this initiative, the Federal Government plans to invest in developing 20 strategic catchment management plans.
"The management plan will eventually produce another 200 micro catchment management plans at sub-national levels with Niger State at the forefront," Dr. Umar explained, highlighting the state's pivotal role in the national environmental conservation effort.
The ACReSAL project represents a significant step toward addressing environmental degradation in Nigeria's semi-arid regions, with gully erosion being one of the most destructive forms of soil degradation affecting agricultural productivity and community safety.
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