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World Bank Task Team On Project implementation support Mission Visits Ankpa.
… Urge communities to own, adopt, protect the projects.
The Task Team lead, of World Bank for ACReSAL projects in Ankpa, Dr. Joy Agene has visited Ankpa communities and beneficiaries of the projects, assured that project impact will create wealth for their families and society at large.
This is as she advised the communities to own, adopt and to protect the projects as their own to enable them benefit future projects.
The world Bank team lead, made the disclosure when she led the world Bank, the Federal Government officials and the management of ACresal on implementation support mission to project sites in Ankpa Local Government Area on Thursday.
Dr. Joy Agene, noted that the Agro – Climatic Resilience In Semi Arid Landscapes Projects (Acresal) was established to take care of climate changes that has affected the 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The World Bank TTL, said the Special Implementation Support Program would enable the team see the progress the State is making in the implementation of Acresal projects, reminded them that whole IDA funds use in the implementation is a loan to the State not a grant, advised that the project be owned by the State, added that their visit is to support and guide the State them through the implementation they are carrying out.
She disclosed that the State government has been noted for it prompt payment of counterpart funds which has made kogi state as one of the states in the North with highest Acresal projects.
The task team lead, Dr. Agene, commended the former Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello and Governor Ododo for their invaluable contributions to Acresal projects who ensured that the state counterparts fund are paid promptly.
” Kogi is a project driven State. It has demonstrated capacity making her to tower highest among the Participating 19 Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory Administration FCTA. Governor Ododo has impacted positively and the love he has shown on ACRESAL projects. And with his commitment, kogi has attracted more funding from the World Bank. From our preliminary reports, the result is encouraging and I assure you that the synergy would continue to yield dividends on the livelihoods of our people.” She said.
The Task Team Lead person, also paid courtesy call to the traditional rulers of Ankpa, HRH Ejeh of Ankpa, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq Ahmed Yakubu 11. and the inspection of the ongoing construction works on the erosion control at Ogaji, Enokpoli, Olubojo, Maboro and 600 hectares of tree reserves at Ofejiji.
She explained that the Acresal is a six year project supporting a multi sectoral approach that seeks to address several critical challenges in Northern Nigeria, with high poverty rate, low illiteracy level, conflicts and violence; desertification underutilisation of modern technology and weak institutional capacity.
She added that the projects are hinged on four components of dry land management, community climate resilience, institutional strengthening and project management and contingency response.
She disclosed that Acresal projects in the state are aimed at benefiting the people in the restoration of one million hectares of land to help address the drastic deforestation going on in the state and the loss of vegetation cover, adding that the World Bank is pleased to assist the growth of forest reserve project in Ofejiji in Dekina local government area of the state.
Responding, the Monarch, HRH Alhaji Ahmed Sadiq Yakubu expressed gratitude to the former Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello who started the project and the current Governor Ododo to have continued with the projects.
According to the royal father, Ankpa people loves development which is a testament to her youthful Leadership.” We are young and energetic leaders. From my humble self as the traditional ruler, to the executive chairman, House of Assembly members, we are young and energetic people” he informed.
He promised to use every thing within his disposal to protect the projects during and after the completion of the projects.
In a remarks, the National Projects Coordinator, Dr. Abdulhammeed Umar, hinted that the world Bank is the backbone of ACresal projects for the 19 Northern states and the FCT.
He applauded the world Bank for its assistance to curb threatening livelihoods of the people of Northern Nigeria, saying the projects are being executed in line with the standards and due process of the world Bank as the erosion control work in Ankpa would permanently solve the age long gully erosion and flash flooding in the area and charged the people to block all activities that hinders the completion of the projects.
He assured that the state would stop at nothing to ensure high standards in the delivery of the projects in order to attract more projects to the State.
Meanwhile, the state Coordinator of ACresal, Barrister Ladi Jatto disclsed that the projects were essentially designed To address land, desert and flood degradations, adding that Acresal has successfully executed 25 safe life for enabo, 300 water harvesting projects for dry season farming in Ankpa Communities.
She thanked the World Bank team and the Federal Government delegations for the untiring support for the people and government of kogi state.
In a remark, the Chairman of Ankpa Local Government Council, Engineer Abubakar Yakubu commended the visitors and Governor Ododo for his continuation with the projects which was initiated by his predecessor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello and promise to safeguard , preserve and protect the projects.
On his part, the Chairman, Ankpa LGA, who was evidently elated, thanked the World Bank, and Kogi State Government for finally coming to the rescue of the good people of the Community of intervention, who had been at the mercy of the devastating gullies they have had to live with for so many years.
He noted that the Project would be jealousy guarded, pointing out that they are aware that the funding for the Project is a LOAN, which must be paid back, said whatever money is being expended on the project would be jealousy guarded.
Meanwhile, a community leader, Dr. B.Y Dangana, Sunday Onogwu, and Samuel Yahaya community Revolving Funds CRF beneficiaries thanked the World Bank, kogi state government through Acresal for the live transformation projects located in their communities and promise that the people will utilise the funds to grow wealth for their families, communities and the State at large.
Highlights of the Ankpa visit by the Mission team was site inspection of the Ankpa Gully Erosion Channelization and Rehabilitation Project, which revealed an impressive progress.
