By Faridat Salifu
The Gombe State Government has allocated N1 billion as a counterpart fund to the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project.
This was announced by the ACReSAL Project Coordinator, Mr. Sani Jauro, during the 2024 Tree Planting Campaign held on Wednesday, in Gombe, the state capital.
The campaign was marked by the participation of the wives of northern governors, who planted trees at the Government Girls Mega College in Doma, Gombe.
Mr. Jauro praised the proactive stance of the state government in the six-year project, noting that Gombe has emerged as the best implementing state in the country.
“Governor Inuwa Yahaya’s political commitment to restoring degraded lands and combating climate change through tree planting has been pivotal,” Jauro said.
According to him, over the past 18 months, the program has made significant strides in addressing environmental challenges.
“Thanks to Governor Yahaya’s commitment, Gombe has been recognized as the top-performing state in the ACReSAL project. We have received nearly N1 billion in counterpart funding, which underscores the governor’s support,” Jauro declared.
The ACRESAL project director also commended the northern governors’ wives for their support through tree planting initiatives and raising awareness about the importance of combating climate change.
Hajiya Asma’u Yahaya, wife of the Gombe State governor and Chairperson of the Northern Governors’ Wives Forum, emphasized the urgent need to address climate change.
She highlighted tree planting as an effective measure to protect the environment and enhance food security.
“Trees help control erosion, reduce urban runoff, store water, and mitigate flooding. They also combat climate change, purify the air, and support biodiversity,” she said.
Asma’u noted that Governor Yahaya’s administration has planted over three million trees across Gombe State under the Gombe Goes Green (3G) project.
She urged her counterparts to replicate these efforts in their states, contributing to the restoration of one million hectares of degraded lands in the region under the ACReSAL project.
