The National Project Coordinator of the ACReSAL Project, Mr Abdulhamid Umar has said that the project is to recover and restore lost landscapes arising from natural causes and human activities for the benefit and purpose of humanity.
He noted that there is a high rate of migration in the front-line states of Northern Nigeria and pressure on the middle belt, so the actions of ACReSAL is to address these challenges that affect livelihoods and the environment.
The NPC stated these when he received in audience the Kwara state commissioner for environment, Mallam Shehu Ndanusa Usman who also doubles as Chairman Steering Committee for Kwara state ACReSAL on a familiarisation visit in Abuja.
He commended the commissioner for his passion and desire to make a difference in the project implementation and assured that the Federal Project Management Unit (FPMU) is more committed to work with Kwara ACReSAL to bring the state back on track for speedy project implementation.
He informed the commissioner that the FPMU responsibility is to support and coordinate project activities in the nineteen northern states and Federal Capital Territory and ensure that states deliver on the Project Development Objective (PDO).
He revealed that ACResal is dedicated to addressing the environmental challenges that affect states such as climate change, drylands, erosion and flooding, land degradation and issues that affect the livelihood of communities which is mainly agriculture.
Speaking further, he informed the commissioner that the ACReSAL project is anchored on four broad components that speak essentially to the demand of the poor whose livelihood has been distressed.
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He also disclosed that technology and science is entrenched in the project implementation to ensure proper watershed delineation and to deliver on the project monitoring and evaluation result framework given that with technology project sites could be monitored from anywhere.
He therefore called on the commissioner to drive kwara state ACReSAL perfectly well in collaboration with the key fundamental ministries as well as other relevant agencies of government, including communication and engagement with the people at the grassroot.
He advised that lots of international investments have been done in the country but ACReSAL is well crafted to the extent that loopholes and challenges are blocked to ensure maximum impacts.
The NPC advice on the need to embrace teamwork and ensure that that World Bank procurement guidelines are fully followed and respected because the World Bank is desirous to see that funds are judiciously utilized in a transparent manner and achieved the targets.
In his remarks, the commissioner divulged that the message from the Executive Governor of Kwara state, his excellency AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq was that he wants Kwara state ACReSAL fully active to accelerate project implementations because there are huge developmental opportunities in the project for the government of the state and benefit of Kwarans.
He promised that with the support of the FPMU and the World Bank Kwara ACReSAL will deliver on its mandates.
Reacting on human behaviours and attitudes that contribute to climate change and environmental degradations, the commissioner said that he has met with some key stakeholders such as the state chairman of traditional council-the Emir of Ilorin and other traditional rules to help in sensitizing the communities and stimulate social change.
The commissioner was accompanied by Kwara state ACReSAL acting Project Coordinator, Alhaji Shamsudeen Olatunbosun Aregbe.
