By Chuks Oyema-Aziken
The Sokoto State Governor, Dr Ahmed Aliyu said the plans are underway for the restoration of 19 million cubic meters of water in Lugu Dam to boost agriculture.
Governor Aliyu made this known at the Stakeholders forum organized by the State Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project in collaboration with the ministries of Environment, Agriculture, and Water Resources of Sokoto State
He also disclosed plans to rehabilitate 1,300 hectares of irrigable land in Wurno Local Government Area to benefit thousands of farmers.
He said the Sokoto state government had contributed N1 billion in counterpart funds for ACReSAL Project to Curb Desert Encroachment.
According to Dr. Aliyu, the state government’s investment in environment and water resources management has brought about some desired changes in the state.
“Our past collaborations have impacted positively on target beneficiaries, and it is our hope that going forward, we would expand access to portable water, and irrigation to boost agricultural production especially in the rural areas.
He stated that the aim of the ACReSAL project is to combat environmental degradation, improve access to water, increase food security and create job opportunities for the teeming youth in the state.
The Governor noted that as part of the government’s commitment, over 800 men and women including the youth have been mobilized and trained on Grievance Redress Mechanism and Business Management for the Community Interest Group (CIGs).
He further explained that over 3,000 people have been mobilized and sensitized about the project, stressing that there is an on-going establishment of 40km Shelter-belt in Wurno LGA, to build defenses against wind there-by forming breaks for farmlands and homesteads in nine communities of Wurno, thus preventing destruction by winds
“We also established a 500Ha Forest Enrichment Plantation in Wurno LGA, designed to improve the vegetation cover and alleviate sheet and rill erosion that threatens the fertile Fadama land in Wurno catchment. This work will ensure that the irrigation activities in Wurno and surrounding areas continue unhindered”.
He maintained that the state has also established 7000Ha Agro Forestry with Moringa Oleifara trees. This activity is aimed at improving the food security of beneficiary communities, covering 23 communities, comprising of over 40,000 direct and indirect beneficiaries, moringa being a tree with high medicinal value in addition to food value is therefore a high value tree crop that farmers elsewhere can easily replicate, this also assures sustainability of this type of intervention.
Dr. Aliyu called on the World Bank to consider easing the procurement processes saying this will encourage them to partner with more agencies for development of the state.
He thanked the World Bank and Federal Government for including Sokoto State in the project.
On her part, Practice Manager of World Bank for Environment, Natural Resources and Blue Economy-West Africa, Ms. Lia Sieghart, said World Bank is concerned about the effect of climate change in Nigeria.
She added that the project is meant for nineteen northern states including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja and it has a time frame of six years.
She sought the cooperation of states and federal government for full implementation of the project.
Also speaking, the National Project Coordinator of ACReSAL, Mr Abdulhamid Umar thanked Sokoto State government for living up to expectation by paying its Counterpart Fund.
He said that ACReSAL will collaborate with relevant MDAs for policy implementation.
He lauded World Bank for partnering with ACReSAL in combating environmental degradation and helping in boosting agricultural production in Northern Nigeria.
The ACReSAL team visited Wurno Shelter belt at Achida and Lugu dam in Wurno local government area of the state.
