Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, has inaugurated the state steering committee for the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL), which will replace the Nigeria Erosion and Watershed Management Project (NEWMAP).

Engineer Sule inaugurated the committee at a ceremony at the Government House, on Friday.

According to the Governor, ACReSAL is even bigger than NEWMAP, encompassing not only issues of erosion, but also agriculture and combating desert encroachment, which he noted, makes it imperative for Nasarawa State to key into the programme.

He explained that a lot of money running into billions of naira are being sunk into such intervention programmes by the Federal Government and World Bank, adding that Nasarawa State must not be left behind, with a view to taking advantage of the programme.

The Governor said his administration appreciated both the Federal Government and the World Bank, whose intervention under NEWMAP, saw to the construction of rainstorm drainage from the Emir’s Palace, through the Rice Mill area, which has so far, addressed the perennial problem associated with floodings.

“By the grace of God, the last rains that we had, we did not witness the usual problems associated with floodings in that area. Instead, we now have a different area around the Musa Ilu Road,” he said.

Engineer Sule expressed confidence that the committee members, under the Chairmanship of Hon. Yakubu Kwanta, Commissioner for Environment, will be able to achieved its stated objectives.

“I feel highly excited that we should be able to achieve the goals that we set for. I have no doubt that the competences that we put together amongst you, being the most relevant persons as far as ACReSAL is concerned, I have no doubt whatsoever that you will be able to deliver,” he stated.

Other members of the committee are, Hon Nuhu Oshafu, Commissioner Agriculture and Natural Resources, Co-Chairman. Alhaji Aliyu Abdullahi Agwai, permanent secretary, Aluzi Emmanuel Mamman, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance, Hajiya Hauwa Ogah, Permanent Secretary, Ministry for Women Affairs, Paul Azegi, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works, Transport and Housing, as well as Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, while Elias Napoleon, Project Coordinator will serve as secretary.

The development objective of the ACReSAL Project for Nigeria is to increase the implementation of sustainable landscape management practices in targeted watersheds in northern Nigeria and strengthen Nigeria’s long-term enabling environment for integrated climate-resilient landscape management.

The project comprises of four components. The first component, dryland management will implement integrated watershed management planning and addresses challenges of large-scale watershed degradation in northern Nigeria. It consists of following sub-components: (i) strategic watershed planning; (ii) landscape investments; and (iii) special ecosystems.

The second component is community climate resilience. It consists of following sub-components: (i) community strengthening; and (ii) community investments.

The third component, institutional strengthening and project management includes investments to improve the enabling institutional and policy foundation for multisectoral integrated landscape management and climate resilience, as well as support to project management. It consists of following sub-components: (i) institutional and policy strengthening; and (ii) project management.

The fourth component, contingent emergency response (CERC) is a financing mechanism available to borrowers in investment project financing (IPF) operations to enable quick deployment of uncommitted funds to respond to an eligible crisis or emergency.