By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
Yobe State Government under its World Bank Assisted Project, Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) says it’s set to reclaim 100,000 hectares of land lost to desert encroachment.
The Commissioner for Environment, Yakubu Sidi Karasuwa who inaugurated 153 members of Local Government Project Management Committee in Damaturu the state capital charge them to take ownership of all projects to be executed.
“The issue of desert encroachment is not only in Yobe state, it’s a national issue and Yobe is the most affected considering its proximity with Niger Republic. We large number of kilometer distance that is affected by the desert encroachment”
“Therefore, the project is a local base, whatever activity that is implemented at local level must be owned by the community and involving them is very paramount to succeed” he said.
The State Project Coordinator, Shehu Muhammadu revealed the inauguration is part of the pre-requisite of ACReSAL where 9 persons were picked from each of the 17 local government areas of the state.
“This inauguration is part of the prerequisite of ACReSAL, the same committee was inaugurated at the National and State levels and this is the last batch of the committee entry”
“The project will last for 6 years and we are trying to bring succour to the people. The Federal government is set to reclaim 4,000 hectares of land lost to desert encroachment and out of this number, Yobe ACReSAL is to reclaim 100,000 hectares of land.
Some of the Directors of Personnel Management for the local government who are to serve as chairmen of the committee, explained the move would assist them in averting the challenge of climate change in their respective areas.
