By Daniel Tyokua
The World Bank has rated the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) high in Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) projects implementation across the territory.
Practice Manager, Environment for World Bank on West Africa and Sahel, Ellysa Baroudy gave the pass mark during a visit of the bank delegation to Etsu Kwali palace, one of the ACReSAL project benefited areas, on Thursday.
She said it has been difficult to implement a program but ACReSAL had succeeded in the country, especially with the impressive results recorded in the Federal Capital Territory.
Baroudy commended the administration for deploy the resources well for implementation of the projects in respective areas.
According to her, both the parties involved in the program have played their roles perfectly, which had brought out a tremendous outcome.
She said, “I was impressed with seeing before and after photos of the changes in the landscape and the reduction in the gullies. So I know that you have all done tremendous amounts. We’ve only been the financiers, but we don’t always have successful projects. We don’t always have successful projects, but this is a successful project. You knew how to deploy the resources and they are really there to make a difference to people’s lives” Baroudy said.
On his part, the mandate secretary Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Abdullahi Ango said the administration has regarded the ACReSAL project as a true game-changer.
He said the project’s governance structures, notably, the Steering Committee headed by the Minister of State, FCT and the Technical Committee, have provided exemplary oversight in the project implementation.
Ango lauded the interventions such as the provision of solar-powered boreholes and standalone solar lighting, making a tangible difference in the daily lives of the people.
He said the disbursement of the Community Revolving Fund (CRF), an initiative that is empowering community members with access to capital to start-up or grow their small businesses, thereby stimulating growth was an outstanding initiative.
In her remarks,the FCT project coordinator, Mrs. Caroline Opera commended the Etsu Kwali for providing the enabling environment for the program to succeed.
She said Kwali remain the heart of the ACReSAL project, saying every component of the project has been implemented in the area.
Earlier, the Etsu Kwali, Luka Nizasaan pledged his leadership commitment to own the process and the projects.
He said, “We are also assuring you of our willingness to own every process of this project. We don’t just want to be part of the project, but we want to own it.
“This, like I said, will make the project sustainable. We don’t just want to have you leave after the program expires. We want you to return even after that, make a review and see if it’s working better than you left there. We want to build a culture of sustainability. We want to be part of it. We want to walk along. We want to own every infrastructure you will leave and create other pathways from what you left. That’s our commitment” Etsu said.
