By Khalid Idris Doya
Governor Bala Mohammed assured that Agro-Climatic Resilience In Semi-Arid and Landscapes (ACReSAL) has come to stay in Bauchi state, having put in place all necessary structures to ensure the project's sustainability.
He said, "What the National Coordinator has said is true, we have to be very passionate in whatever we do, we have to create ownership, we have to identify our peculiarities, and our needs assessments. Our best line service should be turning into what we need as a state".
According to the governor, the World bank is poised to help Bauchi state in no small measure, having the project as multi-dimensional and multi-facetted covering not only water resources, agriculture and environment, but even education and health, having all interconnected to create livelihood.
The Governor was weekend speaking at the Bauchi ACReSAL Project Open Day & Stakeholders Engagement on General Impact Evaluation of Implemented Projects held at the Ahmadu Bello International Conference Centre Bauchi, where he stated that the project is also ensuring the quality of life of the people generally.
Senator Bala Mohammed who expressed delight with the human capital that avails in the project, regretted that the state had hitherto dwindled in terms of its bureaucracy and capacity, described the project performance as tangible, measurable and achievable.
He defended, "We conceptualise the provision of water along our cattle routes which traverse from the Republic of Mali to Gamawa here, cutting across the Northern parts of the state, down to the South, posting a lot of movement programmes with pasture and water everywhere".
"Our ambition was to build about 100 Earth Dams, whereas if the directed number cannot be achieved, we would make sure that the project is sustained with the spillage giving water to the downline village communities".
Governor Bala recalled that Bauchi state had suffered so much degradation of farmlands due to erosion, desert encroachment, rising vulnerability, with poverty increasing which necessitated the adoption of ACReSAL to reverse the trend.
He asserted, "This particular project will bring back land restoration, water access, livelihood and institutional friendship, working with locals as leaders who were also owners of the project, carefully selected to marshal the project for a better society.
Speaking earlier the project national coordinator, Abdulhamid Umar said that the joint efforts with the World bank is to evaluate and see the journey so far in the ACReSAL project execution in Bauchi state.
He told the occasion which was adequately represented by the World bank and the Federal Government of Nigeria, pointing to Governor Bala Mohammed, "This is the only governor that reviews our work plan, signing it page by page, getting it to the project national coordinator and sending the same work plan to the World bank".
He added, "But we had 18 other states where we hardly see similar things. So what we saw with the tangible items outside, the tractors, machines, big equipment that are so qualitative and second to none. So for those in ACReSAL we are lucky to have a very appreciative and understanding governor whose only project is loan, and he is so prudent and highly dedicated to get value for money".
Alh. Abdulhamid added, "Bauchi is the most performing state of the project under Dr. Kabir Gamawa stewardship as the state project coordinator, with the guidance of Governor Bala Mohammed, Bauchi is the first and best performing state of the community revolving fund (CRF) state, despite it is the late project execution starter", describing the project performance in Bauchi as unprecedented".
National Coordinator Umar delightedly said, "Our scorecard for evaluation in Bauchi state is 99.9 percent. My team was invited to the World bank with the high command of the bank last week and we reviewed activities. "What was most celebrated is the "MASHAYAS" Bauchi state created. Experts at the World bank have agreed to come to Bauchi and explore how ACReSAL has succeeded in providing a water system for the livestock". So Bauchi has now become a classical showcase for ACReSAL project globally".
In a remark at the occasion, the Bauchi State First Lady, Dr. A'isha Bala Mohammed commended her husband for what she described as his unwavering commitment to women focusing on development programmes.
Hajiya A'isha Bala Mohammed recalled that she has witnessed numerous impactful projects that directly improves the lives of women across the state which, according to her, demonstrates a leadership that prioritise women inclusion for sustainable growth and development.
She specifically commended the Bauchi state ACReSAL Office for the selection and training of 600 women on homeguard and climate smart agriculture which initiative, she observed, is a powerful step towards strengthening food security, increasing households income, and protecting the environment opportunities.
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