By Awyetu Asabe Hope
The World Bank has praised the scale and impact of ongoing erosion control efforts in Gombe State.
Led by its Nigeria Country Director, Matthew Verghis, a delegation on Wednesday inspected the 21-kilometre gully erosion site at the FCE (T) Watershed under the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes programme.
Accompanied by Governor Muhammadu Yahaya, the team assessed the project’s engineering and environmental approach.
A representative of Triacta Nigeria Limited, Imran Khan, said the intervention combines reinforced concrete structures with bioremediation techniques to restore degraded land and prevent further erosion.
State ACReSAL Coordinator, Dr Sani Adamu-Jauro, said the project also supports livelihoods, with over 100 beneficiaries accessing waste management and rainwater harvesting facilities.
He added that a community revolving fund of over N350 million has been established to boost economic activities and resilience.
Beneficiaries said the project has improved their livelihoods and protected homes and farmlands from erosion.
In a show of support for environmental sustainability, Verghis and Tunisian Ambassador to Nigeria, Mohsen Antit, planted trees under the state’s green initiative.