Yobe ACReSAL State Technical C’ttee Holds Quarterly Meeting
From Sani Gazas Chinade, Damaturu
The Yobe State Technical Committee for the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project convened its quarterly meeting on Thursday, marking significant progress in the project’s implementation.
According to a press release by the Communication Officer, Ibrahim Baba Saleh, the meeting was chaired by Alhaji Tonga Betara Bularafa, the Chairman of the State Technical Committee and Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Environment.
In his opening remarks, the Chairman commended the committee members for their cooperation and contributions toward the success of the ACReSAL project in Yobe State. He emphasized that the project’s strategic objective is to enhance sustainable landscape management through land restoration and promote climate-resilient agricultural practices.
The Chairman also congratulated the ACReSAL State Project Management Unit (SPMU) for their outstanding performance across various indicators, which led to Yobe State being one of the few to advance to tier two of the project.
During his presentation on the project’s progress, State Project Coordinator Shehu Alhaji Mohammed highlighted several key achievements. These include the successful disbursement of Community Revolving Fund (CRF) loans totaling N325,000,000 to 10 pilot farming communities, the establishment of 170 hectares of woodlots and shelter belts, and the procurement of an amphibian excavator (swamp buggy) for dredging and clearing invasive Typha grass along the fringes of the Nguru wetland.
Additional milestones mentioned include the approval of the engineering design for the 13.7-kilometre Damaturu/Buniyadi Gully Erosion Control Project, the procurement of dry-season farming implements for distribution to farmers, the approval of a fresh Term of Reference (TOR) for the restoration of 108 hectares of oases, and support provided to the State Ministry of Environment for the evacuation of drainages in major Local Government Areas (LGAs).
In their contributions, committee members stressed the importance of maintaining all project sites to ensure long-term sustainability.
The meeting was attended by Permanent Secretaries from the Ministries of Agriculture and Water Resources, directors from the Ministries of Environment, Agriculture, and Water Resources, as well as focal persons and ACReSAL staff.
