The Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) Project in Kaduna State has engaged stakeholders and affected communities in preparation for planned erosion control works spanning 3.14 kilometres in the Kawo area.
State Project Coordinator Hadiza Halid disclosed this on the sidelines of a one-day capacity-building workshop on Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) implementation held on Tuesday.
The workshop was organized to sensitize residents, align relevant stakeholders, and build consensus before civil works begin.
Halid explained that approximately 243 persons are expected to be affected along the erosion corridor.
“This is a community-based intervention. It is important that the people understand what the government, in collaboration with ACReSAL, intends to do,” she said.
“We have brought together community leaders and relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies to explain the RAP process and safeguard measures. This will help to minimize grievances and ensure smooth implementation,” Halid added.
The Commissioner for Environment, Abubakar Buba, represented by Yusuf Mu’azu, Director of Environment and Pollution Control, described erosion as a serious environmental threat requiring urgent remediation across affected communities.
He stated that the state government has strengthened environmental management efforts, including improved waste control measures, to complement the erosion control works.
Buba emphasized that community engagement is critical to ensuring that environmental restoration activities are carried out with broad support and in full compliance with established safeguards.
The ACReSAL Project, supported by the World Bank and the Federal Government, aims to restore degraded landscapes, enhance climate resilience, and improve livelihoods in semi-arid regions of Nigeria. The Kawo intervention reflects ongoing efforts to address gully erosion, protect infrastructure, and safeguard vulnerable communities through inclusive, transparent processes.
