Gombe State pays N500m counterpart fund to execute erosion project

<p>Gombe State has paid N503 million as counterpart funding for the implementation of the World Bank-assisted Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project.</p>, <p>The project aims at checking erosion, among other climatic problems.</p>, <p>Gov. Inuwa Yahaya said at the launch of the project in Gombe on Monday that payment of the counterpart fund showed the state government’s commitment to strengthen climate resilience.</p>, <p>He said Gombe was the most erosion-impacted state in the northern parts of Nigeria as it had no fewer than 200 active gullies.</p>, <p>According to him, Gombe is among the states most affected by environmental challenges due to its unique geographical location.</p>, <p>He noted that the environmental challenges had adverse effects on agricultural productivity, natural resources and general livelihood of the people.</p>, <p>“Incessant flooding, erratic rainfall patterns, desert encroachment and diminishing arable lands have taken their tolls on the livelihood of our famers and communities,’’ the governor said.</p>, <p>Yahaha added that through interventions such as ACReSAL, government was determined to entrench environmental accountability and sustainability and ensure cooperation, ownership and shared responsibilities in protecting the environment.</p>, <p>“Our major policy focus is to harness both our land and water potentialities to strengthen our comparative advantage in agriculture,’’ he said.</p>, <p>The governor expressed optimism that his administration’s partnership with the World Bank through the ACReSAL project would help to provide a healthy and eco-friendly environment for human habitation.</p>, <p>“We have acquired motorcycles and six tricycles, a boat and a drone to boost the capacity of our forestry unit for effective wildlife protection and conservation,’’ he said.</p>, <p>In her remarks, Dr Joy Agene of ACReSAL’s task team commended Gombe State’s commitment to address environmental challenges.</p>, <p>Agene gave the assurance that the project would he