Sokoto Pays N1bn Counterpart Funding To Fight Desertification

The nation’s effort at combating desertification and the vagaries of climate change got a boost with the Sokoto State government paying N1billion counterpart funding to boost the Agro Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project.

ACReSAL is a federal government coordinated and World Bank assisted  multi-institutional and multi-sectoral  land reclamation and rejuvenation scheme covering the environment, agriculture, and water resources.

Sokoto State Governor, Alhaji Dr. Ahmad Aliyu, made the disclosure when he hosted a team of World Bank Agroclimatic officials led by its practice manager for Environment, Natural Resources and Blue Economy in West Africa, Ms Lia Sieghart, who were in the state to appraise the ACReSAL land rejuvenation, afforestation and agro-cultivation project  in the state. 

The governor who commended the federal government’s multi institutional, multi sectoral ACReSAL initiative, expressed the optimism that the project would check desertification and restore degraded land and special eco -system in Northern Nigeria. 

He said as a partner in the project, their role was critical in promoting multi-sectoral coordination and  cooperation for building climate, resilience and better management of land, and natural resources.

While promising maximum support for ACReSAL , Governor Aliyu vowed to push alongside the federal government  , ensuring  the empowerment of their economy and people.  

Governor Aliyu said over 800 men and women including youths were so far  mobilised, and trained on Grievance Redress Mechanism, and Business Management for Community Interest Group ( CIGs) as part of the benefits from the project since it’s effectiveness in 2022.