Bauchi Govt Step Up Implementation Of World Bank Assisted Project

Bauchi State Project Management Unit (SPMU) of the Agro-climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid (ACReSAL), a World Bank-support project has sensitised members of both steering and technical committees to enable them contribute towards its efficient and effective implementation.

In a key note address at the commencement of the sensitisation in Kano, the Bauchi State project coordinator, Dr Ibrahim Kabir said the session will afford the state project management unit to once again update the knowledge of the stakeholders on their expected roles in the implementation of the World Bank supported project.

According to him, the steering committee is the apex decision-making body for sector, policy and project harmonisation while the technical committee is to, among other things, review and update annual work plans in addition to developing inter-sectoral MoUs if needed.

“I am highly delighted to welcome you to this very important engagement, this forum is to once again brief our project stakeholders on the activities designed to be implemented by the SPMU and the expected roles of different committees to play in ensuring effective service delivery.

“In our work plan, we have planned tree plantations in 10 tertiary institutions across the state, dams construction, rehabilitation and expansion, and 40 kilometres of roadside tree plantation. The ACReSAL project, which has a six-year implementation period, is targeted at impacting the livelihood of more than three million people in the targeted communities.”

Dr Ibrahim Kabir added that, the ACReSAL projects will intervene in massive tree planting, irrigation farming, agroforestry, green house farming, plant nursery development units, farm produce processing centres and integrated solar- powered borehole schemes across all the local government areas in the state.

The project coordinator used the medium to appreciate Governor Bala Mohammed for the commitment demonstrated in meeting the requirements of accessing the ACReSAL funds and recalled that decision for the state to participate in ACReSAL project was an added effort to tackling disasters and natural emergencies through implementation of a number of multi-sectoral initiatives.

Participants at the sensitisation, while describing the engagement as timely, observed that it will enhance their understanding and participation in the project.