The Katsina State Government has recovered 30,000 hectares of degraded land and supported about 2.5 million people through the World Bank-backed Agro-Climate Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project.
Governor Dikko Radda disclosed this on Wednesday in Katsina during the launch of the distribution of farm inputs, waste disposal trucks, and 4,000 energy-efficient stoves to women in the state.
Radda highlighted that some interventions included the construction of Katsina Town Stormwater Management Phase II, riverbank construction for Jibia Flood Control Phase II, and the procurement of 36 tractors, power tillers, modern waste disposal equipment, improved seeds, insecticides, herbicides, sprayers, and a swamp buggy machine for dam maintenance. The project also distributed three million tree seedlings across the state.
He said the waste disposal equipment would enhance sanitation, reduce pollution, and improve the quality of life for residents.
“Through this intervention, we are addressing critical challenges such as desertification, flooding, poor waste management, food insecurity, and ecosystem degradation,” Radda said.
The governor commended the World Bank, through the ACReSAL project, for supporting environmental protection, public health, and the future prosperity of the state.
Mr Yushau El-Sunais-Sani, Programme Coordinator, said that under the community resilience-building component, the project had distributed over three million tree seedlings across Katsina State. He added that 4,000 energy-efficient stoves were also provided to protect the trees and promote sustainable resource use.
El-Sunais-Sani noted that waste disposal equipment was distributed to ensure effective waste management and prevent flooding in the state.
Commissioner of Environment, Hamza Sule-Faskari, said the procurement of the equipment aimed not only at improving sanitation but also at safeguarding the dignity of residents.
He revealed that the state had recorded significant achievements through the project, earning recognition from the World Bank and the Federal Management Unit of ACReSAL during a recent review meeting in Jos.
